Andrew Abdo has resigned as CEO of the NRL so he can take up a position with Tennis Australia.
The administrator was hired on an interim basis in April 2020 and got the job permanently in September that year.
Abdo’s time at the helm has been a success as the NRL stole a march on the AFL with initiatives like the season-opening matches in Las Vegas.
The code has also raked in a fortune through its TV broadcast deals and expanded to bring two new clubs into the competition: the Perth Bears from next season, and the Papua New Guinea Chiefs from 2028.
Abdo’s role with Tennis Australia has not been revealed but his move comes after the organisation’s prior CEO, Craig Tiley, announced his resignation in February.
Tiley will take up the role of CEO of the United States Tennis Association.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo (pictured) is resigning from his role to take up a position with Tennis Australia after six successful years in footy
Abdo’s move – which has come as a shock to footy fans as it wasn’t rumoured prior to the news breaking on Monday – is a huge loss to the NRL as it negotiates its next broadcast deal.
The current agreement governing the code’s broadcast rights expires at the end of the 2027 season.
More to come…Â
