Wests Tigers make significant leadership changes

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Wests Tigers shareholders have today announced major changes to the management of the club following an independent governance and culture review.

It also follows the resignation of Chief Executive Justin Pascoe who believes the review marks the right time for the club to make a fresh start.  

The Wests Tigers are grateful for Justin's leadership and believe he will be successful in his future endeavours.

Holman Barnes Group Chairman Tony Andreacchio said the shareholders had accepted the recommendations of the review to appoint an interim Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer to take the club forward.

The Wests Magpies and the Balmain Tigers said they fully support the refresh aimed at delivering long-term success for the club.

Mr Andreacchio said the key changes were:

• Former Premier Barry O'Farrell will be interim Chairman. Mr O'Farrell was previously Wests Tigers Chairman in 2019 before taking up a role as High Commissioner to India
• Shane Richardson will be interim Chief Executive Officer.  Mr Richardson has more than 30 years' experience in club management.  He was CEO of the Penrith Panthers from 2002-2004 with the club winning the Premiership in 2003.  He was also CEO of the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2004 to 2015, with the club winning the Premiership in 2014.
• A new interim Board has been appointed to oversee the implementation of the review recommendations. The Board has been reduced from seven members to four for the interim phase. The interim Board will be comprised of Mr O'Farrell (Chairman), and a representative of each of the three Wests Tigers shareholders - Dave Gilbert (Holman Barnes), Danny Stapleton (Balmain Tigers Chairman) and a nomination from the Wests Magpies.

The changes are subject to legal approvals.

Mr O'Farrell and Mr Richardson will take up their roles in the new year and oversee the transition to a new, seven director Board (comprising four independent directors, including the chair and a representative from each of the Wests Tigers shareholders). They will also implement further recommendations from the review to set the club up for long-term success.

Mr Andreacchio said the appointments would give the Wests Tigers the strong and experienced leadership that the club needed at this time.

"We are determined to be successful for our members and fans and that process begins in the front office," he said.

Mr Andreacchio thanked the outgoing Chairman Lee Hagipantelis and CEO Justin Pascoe for their dedication and hard work for the Wests Tigers.

"Lee and Justin faced enormous challenges, but they have left a legacy which gives us a strong base for the future," he said.

"In particular, they leave us with a world class Centre of Excellence and the club is in a stronger financial position because of the relationships they established with sponsors and other supporters."

Mr Andreacchio said the final report of independent review of the club, by former NRL CFO Tony Crawford and businessman Gary Barnier, was submitted to Holman Barnes last week.

He said Holman Barnes believed it was important to move quickly to accept the key recommendation to appoint a new leadership team without delay. The new team will then be able to implement the other recommendations from the review.

"But one thing is clear - this club is determined to provide the leadership required to be successful in the NRL."

Danny Stapleton, Chairman of the Balmain Tigers (shareholder of the Wests Tigers) said it was significant that all shareholders were united in supporting the changes.

"We all share one goal - to see the Wests Tigers again become a real force in the NRL on and off the field," he said.

Dennis Burgess, Wests Magpies Chairman (shareholder of the Wests Tigers), said the Magpies fully endorsed the review's recommendations because they will be key to the Wests Tigers future success.