Well since the other option was the former * chief executive Xavier Campbell (according to the Hun), I'd say the well on existing experienced CEOs was dry. But he's technically been the "CEO" of a footy department, so it might be good to have a CEO at this stage of our development who is strong in knowing what a strong list needs to be successful.
Universal Love Welcome to Carlton Graham Wright
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Yes - that would have been the attraction for Wright - be mentored by Cook for 18 months and then take over.
It was either be mentored by Cook or Craig Kelly - I know which I would choose.
bluesDeluxe
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- Oct 15, 2022
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Professional handover, well done!
He has one of the best setting the path for him, he'll be fine. Plus id hazard a guess that's he's spent enough time in the system to have a rough idea of the requirements
Blues appoint former Pies football boss as deputy CEO
Graham Wright will join Carlton and will eventually succeed Brian Cook as CEOwww.afl.com.au
ferrisb
Brownlow Medallist
Big difference though.
Liddle was a marketing / membership guru. Him interfering in footy dept was out of his depth.
Footy dept is Wright's expertise.
SSSSSS
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Incredible football brain. Still a Hawk legend in my eyes.
Hopefully he does well as a CEO for you guys.
Hopefully he does well as a CEO for you guys.
European sabbatical.
Did he get a trip into the US as well (Harvard Business School) while “holidaying”?
- Sep 28, 2018
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Great news.
Clearly we need a football focussed CEO who can help guide the footy dept at the core of the business.
That he has a year working along-side Cook is brilliant - what better bloke to learn from?
Clearly we need a football focussed CEO who can help guide the footy dept at the core of the business.
That he has a year working along-side Cook is brilliant - what better bloke to learn from?
Last edited:
T2B_
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Made of the Wright stuff
Same concerns but its a well worn path though.
Just off the top of my head Craig Vozzo (Essendon), Tom Harley (Sydney), Craig Kelly (Collingwood), Brendan Gale (Richmond), Simon Garlick (Freo) are all CEOs that have really come through footy player/footy ops pathway into the CEO chair.
Don’t think any of them spent extensive time in businesses or head of businesses outside the AFL bubble (maybe Kelly as he ran his own business). I would think Wright would be as credentialed on that front as any of them, especially with another year under Cook.
But like any coaching appointment it’s going to be about the team and who he surrounds himself with to get the best outcome for the club.
Agree, however, that was not the rhetoric at the time from many many people
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Seriously, seriously good get.
There's a reason why Collingwood were willing to give him a 12 month sabbatical and held the role for him.
Will learn under Cooke for a year too ensuring a smooth transition.
Well done to all involved
There's a reason why Collingwood were willing to give him a 12 month sabbatical and held the role for him.
Will learn under Cooke for a year too ensuring a smooth transition.
Well done to all involved
I don't expect Brad Lloyd to go this offseason as much as some here would like it.
I think Wright will use this transition period to think through his future structure and assess the individuals in key roles. Then make any nessecary changes at the backend of next year.
I doubt Cook will be pushing for an immediate change either. He will consider these decisions to be wrights from now going forward.
I think Wright will use this transition period to think through his future structure and assess the individuals in key roles. Then make any nessecary changes at the backend of next year.
I doubt Cook will be pushing for an immediate change either. He will consider these decisions to be wrights from now going forward.
Great News!
Agree Ferris - he might be CEO but he'll also have the expertise to say to the Football Department 'Why the **** are we giving this guy a 4 year contact ??"
- Apr 4, 2018
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100%. While the finances etc are in good shape for the first time in a while, I’m slightly worried that Wright isn’t the right person for that part of the job. That said, trust Cook to have thought of that!
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Think we tried to get GW over to the blues when he was still at hawks...but stupidly he went to the filth...anyway better late than never 
From the pres;
Dear JJ,
It is with great pleasure I can announce to you this morning that the Board of the Carlton Football Club has ratified the appointment of Graham Wright as our Club’s Deputy CEO, as part of a leadership succession at IKON Park.
Commencing on Monday 14 October, Graham will complete a planned and detailed transition period alongside our esteemed Chief Executive Brian Cook.
This process will see the game’s most successful and longest-serving CEO provide a well-considered and collaborative handover to arguably the game’s most highly regarded football administrator.
With Brian contracted until the end of the 2025 AFL season, the duration of this handover period will be ongoing in nature and centred around the long-term best interest of the Club.
For more than a year, the Club has been considering suitable candidates for its next Chief Executive, with a clear objective to complete a transition period as a key part of this timeline.
Myself and Directors of the Club, along with Brian, were involved in this process, that ultimately saw Graham a clear preferred candidate.
With nearly 40 years of experience at football’s elite level, Graham is in rare company when considering his resume in the game.
We have appointed the best football person in the country to lead our football club.
Graham’s proven ability to take a football club from good to great is unmatched and will be an invaluable asset as this club looks to evolve to the level required to contend for Premierships in the coming years.
When you add to that the detailed handover he will be afforded from Brian, who is this game’s most experienced Chief Executive, it places our club in an incredibly strong position in regard to our senior leadership.
Under Brian’s tenure across the last three years, our club has transformed into a values-led organisation, with a clear focus on unity and excellence.
This features consecutive finals campaigns for the first time in 13 years, record membership, unmatched crowds, diverse business streams and a connected supporter base, which now sees the Carlton Football Club in its strongest position, on and off field, in quite some time.
Brian’s experience in developing sustained success cannot be understated – and his willingness to be part of the process of not only appointing but transitioning the next CEO of the Carlton Football Club, shows you the deep care he has in seeing this club succeed well into the future.
In recent years we have made a conscious decision to not only attract strong leaders to Carlton, but leaders who know what it takes to earn success. Few share those credentials to the calibre of Graham.
To have Graham Wright and Brian Cook working alongside one another for this next period of time – as a Carlton person you could not ask for two more highly regarded individuals to guide the transition of our club’s senior leadership.
Rest assured, we will continue our forward momentum from here, ensuring we do everything possible to give our football club the chance to earn success in the coming years.
Go Blues,
Dear JJ,
It is with great pleasure I can announce to you this morning that the Board of the Carlton Football Club has ratified the appointment of Graham Wright as our Club’s Deputy CEO, as part of a leadership succession at IKON Park.
Commencing on Monday 14 October, Graham will complete a planned and detailed transition period alongside our esteemed Chief Executive Brian Cook.
This process will see the game’s most successful and longest-serving CEO provide a well-considered and collaborative handover to arguably the game’s most highly regarded football administrator.
With Brian contracted until the end of the 2025 AFL season, the duration of this handover period will be ongoing in nature and centred around the long-term best interest of the Club.
For more than a year, the Club has been considering suitable candidates for its next Chief Executive, with a clear objective to complete a transition period as a key part of this timeline.
Myself and Directors of the Club, along with Brian, were involved in this process, that ultimately saw Graham a clear preferred candidate.
With nearly 40 years of experience at football’s elite level, Graham is in rare company when considering his resume in the game.
We have appointed the best football person in the country to lead our football club.
Graham’s proven ability to take a football club from good to great is unmatched and will be an invaluable asset as this club looks to evolve to the level required to contend for Premierships in the coming years.
When you add to that the detailed handover he will be afforded from Brian, who is this game’s most experienced Chief Executive, it places our club in an incredibly strong position in regard to our senior leadership.
Under Brian’s tenure across the last three years, our club has transformed into a values-led organisation, with a clear focus on unity and excellence.
This features consecutive finals campaigns for the first time in 13 years, record membership, unmatched crowds, diverse business streams and a connected supporter base, which now sees the Carlton Football Club in its strongest position, on and off field, in quite some time.
Brian’s experience in developing sustained success cannot be understated – and his willingness to be part of the process of not only appointing but transitioning the next CEO of the Carlton Football Club, shows you the deep care he has in seeing this club succeed well into the future.
In recent years we have made a conscious decision to not only attract strong leaders to Carlton, but leaders who know what it takes to earn success. Few share those credentials to the calibre of Graham.
To have Graham Wright and Brian Cook working alongside one another for this next period of time – as a Carlton person you could not ask for two more highly regarded individuals to guide the transition of our club’s senior leadership.
Rest assured, we will continue our forward momentum from here, ensuring we do everything possible to give our football club the chance to earn success in the coming years.
Go Blues,
