FFA appoints Ben Buckley as New CEO

The Chairman of Football Federation Australia, Mr Frank Lowy, today announced the appointment of Mr Ben Buckley as the new Chief Executive Officer of FFA.

Mr Buckley is currently Chief Operating Officer of the AFL and one of Australia’s most highly regarded sporting administrators.

During his seven years with the AFL, he has been integral to the growth and success of that sport with direct responsibility for most of the major commercial, broadcasting and strategic developments of the code in recent years.

Mr Lowy said he was delighted that Mr Buckley had agreed to accept the position with FFA which will take effect in December.

“Ben is the best of the new generation of Australia’s sporting administrators. He has the track record and undoubted potential to consolidate the gains football has made in the past three years and take the sport to the next level, both in Australia and internationally,” he said.

“He has a wealth of experience at the grass roots and at the highest commercial and strategic level of sport, as well as the energy and enthusiasm to match football’s potential.

“He is very well regarded within the broader sporting community and the corporate sector and enjoys an excellent relationship with governments, broadcasters and major sponsors.”

Mr Buckley said: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity by Frank and the Board of FFA to lead the next phase for Football in Australia and look forward to meeting the challenge and creating opportunities for further growth.

“Football has made some giant leaps forward in the last few years with the success of the launch of the Hyundai A-League and the recent World Cup performance and I look forward to working with the team at FFA and the wider Football Community to build on those foundations and accelerate the growth.”

Mr Lowy said Mr Buckley would build on the strong foundation established by outgoing CEO John O’Neill.

“John has earned a place in the hearts of all football supporters for the hard work and professionalism he brought to the organisation,” he said.

“He joined me when Old Soccer was still a smoking ruin, and in a few short but incredibly busy years put in place the foundations for the long-term success of the game.”

Ben Buckley - biographical summary

• Played 74 games with the Kangaroos in the AFL between 1986 and 1993 and was vice-captain from 1990 to 1992;
  
  
• Bachelor of Applied Science;
  
  
• Director of Marketing for Nike in Australia in 1994. Became Nike’s director of marketing in Japan in 1996;
  
  
• General Manager and Vice President Australasia for EA Sports;
  
  
• Joined the AFL in 1999 as General Manager - Commercial Operations, was appointed General Manager - Broadcasting, Strategy and Major Projects and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in late 2005. As Chief Operating Officer he has had responsibility for Strategic Planning, negotiating and managing AFL Media Contracts, Venue agreements and Facilities development, Competition scheduling and planning the growth of the Game in emerging markets.