New ARU boss: Bill Pulver
On Wednesday the Australian Rugby Union announced the appointment of well-known international business executive Bill Pulver as their new CEO.
53-year-old Pulver will start in the role on 1 February following the resignation of John O'Neill, last October.
He has a background in sports marketing and internet media research and has run companies around the world.
Pulver was most recently in the news when his daughter was the victim of an extortionist who broke into the family home in Sydney and put a fake "collar bomb" around her neck before demanding money.
ARU Chairman, Michael Hawker, revealed the appointment at a Media Conference in Sydney and spoke to the impressive corporate background of an executive with significant global experience.
"The ARU Board was looking for a specific skill set and, benchmarking against those criteria, we have found the right man for the job," said Hawker.
"We wanted someone with proven commercial success at CEO level, with international business experience and a love of Rugby.
"The Board also set priorities around good communication skills and an understanding of the world of Sports Marketing and Media."
Pulver takes over in an exciting year for Australian rugby with the British and Irish Lions touring in June and July.
One of the biggest decisions he will have to make this year will be whether to renew the contract of head coach Robbie Deans through to the 2015 World Cup.
"For 20 years I have been a chief executive in a diverse range of industries and now I have the opportunity to focus my efforts on this great game, the game I love," he said in a news release.
"Today there are many exciting investment opportunities that are capable of igniting growth in our game. However, the success of our financial model relies on a passionate and participative supporter base.
"In the short term the challenge for our team in the ARU headquarters is to work with all the game's stakeholders to ensure rugby in Australia powers forward as a unified and energised force."
Pulver maintains strong connections to grassroots Rugby, via the Mosman Junior Rugby Club in Sydney, while his second son Angus was the halfback in the 2012 Australian Schoolboys team.
A product of Shore School, Pulver's own Rugby career included GPS representation, followed by colts and grade Rugby for University of NSW.
"In a world where our supporters are distracted by an endless range of entertainment options, we must aim to constantly enhance our entertainment experience and maintain a high performance culture to be the No 1 team in the world," he said in listing his priorities.
Comments
Ramage says...
Geez georgesmith what a stupid comment to make, "put the hopeless R Deans in a sack and ship him to Iraq." That has to be the biggest waste of time ever. You know very well he would be on the next boat back to Australia with all your bros, sisters cousies and other members of your family.
I, too, have been celebrating the departure of John O'Neill from the ARU as he has done irreparable harm to not only Australian Rugby but to world rugby in general. Adios John and please dont make another return as you are not needed. Good luck to Bill Pulver as he has an almighty mess to clean up after the sacking of O'Neill for the second time.
I see my spitting partner is up to his old tricks misrepresenting everything he puts pen to paper about. I hope old Trinuts is aware of the weather in Brisbane at the moment, for to put it mildly it is more than spitting. So beware trinuts now that I have taken up residence in your wet city expect the torrents to engulf you when you pen your posts and deluge us with your hypocracy.
Posted 05:42 27th January 2013
trinats2 says...
isthatrightref:
"multi-national composition of the wobblies.."
There you go again, with incorrect info, everyone who plays for the "Wallabies" (if thats who you are referring to ! )is an Australian, they have to be it's the rules !
Tarr-Barlow never lived in NZ ? Yet he was selected to play for NZ. At least Harris (Aussie grand parents) lived here for a few years first.
Posted 11:43 15th January 2013
isthatrightref says...
People who dish it out for the AB for having 2 blokes born in oz (to kiwi parents) should be able to take having someone point out the multi-national composition of the wobblies... except the master baiter, of course, who wants to have it both ways.
Posted 20:15 14th January 2013
Trinats2 says...
isthatrightref:
Obviously touched a nerve, when you bring players that were kids when the came to Australia. you also forgot Stephen Moore, he was born in Saudi Arabia, or does it not count in your world,, as they don't have a team in the top 20 !!! All the players you mentioned were all kids who grew up in Australia, except Harris (Aussie grandparents) ans samo but he has been here a million years. But we could go on about your Fijian flyer or even kangaroo Thorn ! Or even your saffa Andrew Mehrtans !!!
It won't be the last time a player not born in Australia will represent Australia as we have the most multicultural country in the world. And it won't be the last time a player from one of the other pacific islands represents NZ (or a saffa !!!)
Where are your ancestors from ?
Posted 10:50 13th January 2013
isthatrightref says...
@ melkdave... you have to remember that according to the master baiter's Big Book of Maps Fiji (Samo), NZ (Ioane, Cooper, Harris), Tonga (Timani), PNG (Genia) & Zimbabwe (Pocock) are all marked as (Territory of Australia)... in ballpoint pen by his nan perhaps, but marked nevertheless...
Posted 07:23 12th January 2013
Trinats2 says...
melkdave:
The ABs are the Wallabies 2nd side !
Aussie Kerr-Barlow (makes it two in their team now !) made his debut for ABs this year !!!
And before you go on and on, Palyers like Palu, Polota-Nau, and Kepu (Polynesian names) were all born in Australia.
Whinging Pom:
"intimidating Bryce Lawence into fixing the Australia v SA RWC"
Turn it up, in this game SA (who finished bottom of the tri nations again) loss was their 4th or 5th consecutive to Australia, there was no O'Neill deal ???. lawerance had a shocker, but whats new.
What laws did O'neill change ? Did some Aussie run off with you missus or are you always this bitter ?
Posted 21:58 10th January 2013
melkdave says...
Thank god O;Neil has gone,hopefully for good this time.He has done more to destroy Australian rugby union,than anyone imo.Now maybe the ARU will set up systems to identify,and mould good young Australian players,for the S15 teams and wallabies ,so they arnt reliant on imports from NZ as they are atm..Australia are becoming the ABs 3rd team or is that 4th aftrer juniors and maroiand baby blacks.
Posted 13:32 09th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Glad to see the back of John O'Neill. From stuffing Lions fans in the nose bleed sections for matches 2 and 3 of the 2001 lions tour, through to trying to change the laws of the sport to allow the Wallabie forwards to compete up front and finally to intimidating Bryce Lawence into fixing the Australia v SA RWC Quarterfinal in 2011. the guy was total sleaze. Lets see if Pulver can restore a bit of credability to the ARU.
Posted 09:25 09th January 2013
georgesmith says...
Great news. Best move. Get rid of the rot first before Wallabies can improve. Next best move... put the hopeless R. Deans in a sack and ship him to Iraq.
Posted 09:20 09th January 2013
Startledwombat says...
That final paragraph reads like a marketing professional's work. I wonder if it means anything much?
Posted 09:18 09th January 2013