Parramatta Eels Promotes Scott Seward to Become Latest CEO

National Rugby League (NRL) team, Parramatta Eels have announced the appointment of Scott Seward as their new Chief Executive Officer.

Seward becomes the Eels’ fourth CEO in three years on Saturday and walks straight into one of the toughest jobs in Australian sport as he tries to rejuvenate one of the NRL glamour teams.

The Eels are currently without a coach, a major sponsor and have finished with the wooden spoon for the last two seasons.

Seward will officially begin in his new role on Wednesday following 11 months as General Manager, Membership and Consumer Business for the Eels. During that time Eels Membership has grown by an incredible 49.5% on 2012 to a record 17,205, the largest increase in the NRL.

“There is so much upside to this club, and the rise in membership is just one aspect of that,” Seward said.

“But our focus moving forward is not what has been done but what we are doing. There are some great people at this club doing some great things and our mandate from the board is to now turn that into on field success.”

“We have a responsibility to our Members and fans to deliver long term sustainable success, stability and a club that they can be proud of in the community. That is my focus.”

His experience with both the Eels and the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL and the Western Bulldogs in the AFL made him a standout candidate for the PNRL board and Chairman Steve Sharp.

“Scott is an excellent operator and we have seen that first hand during his time with our club over the last year,” Sharp said.

“We have a lot of confidence that his experience and fresh approach is exactly what this great club needs to take us into the future.”

Sharp also acknowledged the work of Matt Phelan, General Manager, Operations and Strategy who filled the role in an interim capacity since July.