But Demetriou, the negotiator, has talked them around. But are they role models? And that was okay; I didn't think there was anything wrong with that. Demetriou is the youngest son of Greek Cypriot immigrants. Lead commercial strategy and business development, major event partnerships, production and venue hire for Carriageworks, Australia's largest multi-arts organisation. "Two bunk beds and four boys in one room," recalls his eldest brother, lawyer James Demetriou. In his role as head of the AFL Commission, he was responsible for a number of changes, including the expansion of the league from 16 to 18 teams, the restructuring of the tribunal system, and the brokering of two new television rights deals. [citation needed] He claimed that the Swans would not win the premiership with the way they were playing,[10] and this statement was underlined when the team suffered a 43-point defeat to St Kilda in Round 10. Andrew Demetriou has a distinctive walk. Demetriou insists that the policy, which forces two-time offenders into rehabilitation before any suspension, is working. Even his generally unemotional chairman Mike Fitzpatrick wiped away something resembling a tear at that point. "Nine years on, having moved from football operations to the top job, football's consensus is that Demetriou has done anything but stuff the league. This is no doubt true - but not the whole truth. "Every dollar that goes to the GWS, that's a dollar less to the existing clubs or players.". [6], In 2011, Demetriou was involved in securing a record breaking A$1.25 billion TV rights deal for the period of 20122016. Seven years later though, Demetriou praised the Swans for their new attacking style of play under coach John Longmire and rated them as serious contenders for the premiership. His 103 North games resulted in 54 wins. He still has this quality of que sera sera effortlessness, say those close to him. [3] He was elected by the board of directors at the end of the 2003 season, taking over from the outgoing CEO Wayne Jackson. Not that it seems to bother him. It was the first public example of his negotiating skill. What might have been acceptable 10 years ago is not acceptable now. North Melbourne Football Club had played three home games there in 2007 and, at the conclusion of that season, Demetriou offered the club $100 million to relocate there permanently. But, you know, that's Andrew defending his patch. " Red Symons recalls. Ben Buckley, his teammate at North Melbourne, later his No. ', he would say things like, 'You know, I don't know what the right way to feel is, but at the moment I don't feel comfortable doing that.' "Andrew needs to set high goals for himself," wrote his grade 4 teacher, "because he can achieve them. ". Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. His parents, whose fathers were both dead, had left Cyprus in 1951 and didn't return until 1983, until after their sons had completed their university studies. He respected me as somebody in an organisation. He has an older brother Jim Demetriou who played senior football for Essendon in the mid-1970s. Correction: CLARIFICATION A profile of AFL boss Andrew Demetriou published yesterday in The Age (Melbourne) Magazine referred to the 1998 AFL players' deal as the first collective agreement struck on their behalf. "Although he might find himself tethered to his Blackberry, Demetriou more often than not walks through the front door at 5.30pm and rolls up the sleeves when needed. "He likes to present himself as not ambitious. Even if it's 10 o'clock at night he'll still be responding to emails or taking calls. "He has all the qualities of a good politician," says Don Watson, who, as Prime Minister Paul Keating's speech writer, should know. It represents to him what is best about Australia: egalitarianism, acceptance, encouragement of talent. So he was really pointing out missed opportunities. "Towards the end of the day at this function, he pointed out a woman and said, 'She's nice, isn't she?' Director, Commercial. We spoil them from time to time, but we also want them to want. Aug 2020 - Present2 years 7 months. "I've said continuously that it's not going to be easy," says Demetriou calmly. I don't think there's anything wrong with giving people options.". Between 1998 and 2000, Demetriou was CEO of the AFL Players Association. Everyone has to because that's just the expectation. Andrew is currently non Executive Director of Crown Resorts, Chairman of Capital Health Group and Cox Architects and sits on the Australian Reconciliation Council. "I took a decision very early on that I wanted to see them grow and help my wife," he says. "Not many people get away with calling Andrew, Andy. "It was relatively innocuous, but at the same time I thought, 'This is very unlike Andrew.' "There's a bit of the ancestry there - a bit of the old Cypriot sitting under the tree having a glass of whatever they drink over there, watching the world go by. That would leave a massive hole at the competitions governing body and the game at the crossroads. Demetriou's negotiating skills have gained almost mythological status. Date of Birth: 14 April 1961. . We provided a small injection of capital which gave the business the ability to borrow money and it's grown incredibly well. noted some who passed including his first wife Jan and heaped love on his wife and four kids. Demetriou became emotional when he talked about those loved ones and colleagues he had lost during his time in the games administration - his first wife Jan Bassett, mother Chrysi, former AFL chairman Ron Evans, ground operations boss Jill Lindsay and Jim Stynes. I'll read junk, too. Back in his playing days - 106 games for North Melbourne and Hawthorn - fitness came naturally. His best memory was the elation of a come-from-behind triumph over Carlton in the elimination final of 1985. I was lucky to have someone who understood," he recalls. James Hird's wife Tania says Andrew Demetriou knew about payments to suspended coach UPDATE: James Hird says he will fight to protect his right to his $1 million salary while serving his 12-month suspension. ANDREW DEMETRIOU | CHAIRMAN Former Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Football League (AFL), Andrew has been a CEO across a number of business sectors. Chief executive Andrew Demetriou is kissed by his wife Symone as his daughters Francesca and Alexandra look on during an AFL press conference at AFL. "From day one, and we're genuine about it, we have had a very healthy respect for the NRL," he says. [citation needed], Demetriou in 2014 became the Chairman of the Advisory Board at Acquire Learning. Demetriou, of course, knows this very well. His early days are well recorded: he and older brothers James, George and Phivos with his parents Tony and Chrysi all sharing two bedrooms, the boys often minded in the shop and then pitching in as they grew older. Or, as he would put it, giving people options. ", Finally - and perhaps most importantly - he believes (or persuades others he believes) that no deal is worth dying for. In 2005 he was instrumental in securing a record breaking A$780 million TV rights deal. "Another call. . Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. He later would be involved in another business, the Baxter Group, which he took from a market capitalisation of $40 million in 2003 to a sale in 2006 for $260 million. But that's just part and parcel of the job. "I remember Andrew speaking at an AFL conference a couple of years ago," recalls Swans CEO Andrew Ireland. And the caption said something like: 'That's what it takes'. In 2008, Demetriou earned an annual salary of $1.4 million, making him the highest paid administrator or player then employed by the AFL. "I think - and I'm sure Andrew knows this - that GWS is the biggest challenge by far that the AFL has ever bitten off. Demetriou now has four children - twin girls born two days after he took on the CEO role, the Monday after the 2003 grand final, another daughter born in 2007, and a little boy born in 2009. He lacks fanaticism. "I got a kick, which helps," he laughs. It is well known, of course, that in a country already saturated by four national football competitions, giving people options in a new place means taking them from an old one. Andrew Demetriou (born 14 April 1961) is an Australian businessman, sports administrator, and former Australian rules football player who was chief executive officer (CEO) of the Australian Football League (AFL) up to June 2014. His first wife died in 1999. For the South Melbourne and Port Melbourne player, see, Proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club, "Pssst: Introducing Doctor Andrew Demetriou", "We reveal AFL boss Andrew Demetriou's $7m Toorak base", "AFL boss Andrew Demetriou scores .4 million", Demetriou earned his $1.8 million, says AFL chairman, AFL secures TV rights deal for next five years worth $1.253 billion, "Ugly ducklings to make up for the sin of St Kilda", Love is in the air as Andy and Dickie revive flagging relationship, AFL chief Andrew Demetriou likes Sydney Swans' flag chances | Herald Sun, Tackle happy - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club, "What you need to know about the AFL's new boss, Gillon McLachlan | News.com.au", "Fans should see red over the hypocrisy of footy going green", "Acquire Learning: Andrew Demetriou's new education venture facing ASQA scrutiny amid allegations of unethical behaviour", "Andrew Demetriou to lead Acquire Learning | afr.com", "Acquire Learning goes into voluntary administration", AFL boss Andrew Demetriou revisits playing days, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrew_Demetriou&oldid=1120957313, Australian rules footballers from Melbourne, Australian people of Greek Cypriot descent, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 November 2022, at 19:01. Andrew Demetriou and wife Symone Demetriou arrive for the 2006 AFL Brownlow Medal Dinner at Crown Casino September 25, 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. What he lacks in celebrity style, however, he makes up for in knowledge. Her son was knocked out by Leigh Matthews and carried off. He'd had one great relationship in his life; that was all anyone could expect. They have three daughters and a son. Nor does she recall easily his number. But McLachlans reputation was not enhanced when he was placed in charge of standing in judgment over Melbourne following the tanking investigation, nor by the messy completion of the Essendon negotiation. "I don't think we want to get Andrew involved in the grow suits. Former AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is a strong family man. Plate of heart Soccer's Jose Mourinho is The Special . Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images More than anything, at all stages of his life, football has allowed Demetriou both to stand out, and to fit in. They never saw their mothers after they left. We don't own this game. The commission has not guaranteed McLachlan the job and appointed an executive search team to test the market for Demetrious successor long before he told Fitzpatrick at the 2014 Super Bowl that he would officially resign in early March. 'I'm just ringing to say your brother has died.' Please try again later. Beyond this foundation, the brothers' childhoods combined both genuine acceptance and deep-rooted racism. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 14 April. If you'd said I was going to be working in football 20 years later, I'd have thought you were mad.". Andrew Demetriou knows about people yelling abuse at the footy. 1983 "Our numbers are very impressive in western Sydney," he says, when he says anything at all. "To be frank, if the clubs had had their way, there'd be no national expansion," says Gale. Demetriou gives little away. The AFL chief executive, whose successor could be named as early as May, has declared a wish to serve out the 2014 football season, demanded and received great loyalty from his staff who became emboldened themselves by a leader they regarded as fearless. If the other person feels they've been dudded, it's not a negotiation worth having. If you see what he's done it becomes clear he must be ambitious, and possess a certain amount of drive. Andrew Demetriou, the million-dollar boss of Australia's dominant sports code, joins his fellow board members around the table once a month. Demetriou is also the highest-paid executive in any code: last year he earned $2.2 million. But should his long-serving deputy, who knocked back the NRL job in early 2013, fail to succeed him then McLachlan too would leave. This is in itself quite charming. He's convinced them that a truly national competition will benefit everyone in the long term, by bringing in more fans, giving sponsors a bigger platform, and making media rights more desirable and profitable. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Development of Carriageworks' commercial and major events programs to expand our . "Can you imagine?". Meanwhile, in February, the code announced its highest-ever revenue, for last year's season: $335.8 million; its biggest operating surplus, $23 million; and record club membership of more than 614,000. "With a chuckle, he continues: "I have to say, that board meeting takes longer than the meetings of other boards that I've been on they're talking about different designs, the manufacturers in India, what colours we should do. We're not drug experts. When the AFL season begins on Thursday, it will include a new team, the Gold Coast Suns, and in 2012, the Suns will be joined by the Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS); then, for the first time in its 115-year history, the VFL/AFL will have 18 teams in its top competition. The entire Demetriou family lived in the two-bedroom flat attached to the shop. Suddenly, he was switching teams.The irony was hardly lost on his new colleagues. "It's impossible for me to answer that, other than the fact that when you're dealing with terminal illness, and you've got a very limited time, you change your perspective on many things. At this point in time, no one knows if Andrew Demetriou can make the AFL expansion work. Chairing several companies after his retirement from playing, he was appointed CEO of the AFL Players Association in 1998, and was responsible for negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players. Oh. The Kim Williams appointment to the commission would seem good for McLachlan who does not yet boast its unanimous support. He's revolutionised the code's response to illicit drug use; initiated a policy to improve the treatment of women; allowed free movement of uncontracted, end-of-term players between clubs; and supported some of the strongest anti-discrimination policies in international sport. But money isn't the whole story. Were working to restore it. They'll have a women's round, an indigenous round, a tie-a-ribbon-around-everything round. After the children are in bed, he and his wife watch "crappy TV" (hence his awareness of Kim Kardashian's rich inner life), and read the gossip mags. "It's an amazing game," he says, smiling. "I don't stress about these things," says Demetriou. ""Our game takes 17-year-olds from completely different backgrounds. In the dedication of a final book, she made an unusual reference to her husband. Encouraging kids and beginners to try your code is one thing; seducing mature athletes from a rival code after years of development is quite another. [citation needed] North Melbourne Football Club had played three home games there in 2007 and, at the conclusion of that season, Demetriou offered the club $100 million to relocate there permanently. It hurts people. Demetriou was made CEO of the AFL in 2003, replacing Wayne Jackson. You've got to make sure that you leave the game in better shape than when you borrowed it." Two years later, Demetriou had begun to learn his lesson. Industrial harmony has been a cornerstone of the AFL's recent success, though there are always issues brewing. 1998 Between 1998 and 2000, Demetriou was CEO of the AFL Players Association. Demetriou's first wife died in 1999. And they are relishing the prospect of a fourth child, due in November. [4], In 2009, Demetriou earned $1.8 million for his role at the AFL. Aries. "A bit different from the rest of us, all putting the Gold Coast and AC/DC.". Keep up with all the latest signings here. Tania Hird, the wife of the suspended Essendon coach, has repeated the controversial claim that AFL boss Andrew Demetriou tipped off the club. Please try again later. (But) I was very careful not to tread on too many toes. ". just moments after touching on the death of his first wife. He's even convinced those behind enemy walls to join his crusade. Jill Lindsay, in charge of league grounds and one of the AFL's longest-serving executives, looked Demetriou square in the eye on day one and said: "So, you're the guy who stuffed the league." At 61 years old, Andrew Demetriou height We take these people and put them into a club environment and we expect them all to behave exactly the same. Andrew and Symone Demetriou moved there 18 months ago from Hawthorn, into a two-storey 1930s home with lap pool, cellar and five-car garage, essentially to be nearer their daughters' school. Demetriou's first wife died in 1999. Andrew Demetriou. Andrew Schulz's wife Emma is 27 years old as she was born on February 14, 1995. Business was booming, but romance, he told friends, was over. He suffered heartbreak a decade ago when his first wife, the academic and historian Jan Bassett, died of cancer, but today Andrew Demetriou's life seems very much on an even keel. "He'll get massive kudos, or massive condemnation out of it," says Richard Hinds. He was practising the delicate art, so valued by Australians, of high achievement without visible effort. I wish more powerful people had his attitude.". "We used to have games of the wogs against the Aussies, and we'd have Australian kids who wanted to be on the wogs' team. Likewise, his partner, Emma, wore a white strapless mermaid wedding gown. [citation needed], Demetriou is best known for his position as CEO of the Australian Football League. But it's not all beer and skittles. Andrew Demetriou (born 14 April 1961) is an Australian businessman, sports administrator, and former Australian rules football player who was chief executive officer (CEO) of the Australian Football League (AFL) up to June 2014. By the time we've got two teams there the Swans will have been playing in Sydney for 31 years. Suitably enough, Demetriou met Symone Richards, then a corporate accounts manager, in 2001 at a grand-final-day function. "The Sydney Swans went there in 1981. And it was possibly a greater asset to him than his kicking, which could be a bit hit and miss. Credit: The high-profile Melbourne identity, who has been a director of the casino giant since 2015 and is chairman of Crown . She died in 2004. "She said to the teacher, 'How's Andrew going? I've got to say he was absolutely amazing. Demetriou maintained his involvement in Ruthinium when he moved to the AFLPA. "I spend more time reading the front part of the paper rather than sport. Gallop refuses to admit publicly to anything other than total confidence in rugby league. Demetriou remains a shareholder and board member. But as the code that stands to lose the most, not only in terms of money but in historic heartland support, privately there's both frustration and cynicism within the NRL's ranks. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. If you're going to have relationships, they've got to be meaningful. "He spoke about where the game had been 100 years ago. He may even, say several of his friends, end up at Lake Como. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. "The business is a good business. A fourth daughter would be fantastic. Her sense of humanity, and my father's too, they were very generous and were always looking for the good in people. ", "He's exceptionally adept with figures," adds James Demetriou. He was no Trojan horse on behalf of the players, but nor did he give up on them when he assumed a role on the opposite side of the negotiating table. Given her mother followed North Melbourne, she thinks she must have seen him in passing, if only on Saturday evening's TV replay, but she couldn't be sure. "Andrew is a vigorous defender of his organisation's objectives," is how Buckley diplomatically puts it. North Melbourne rejected that offer and, in January 2008, the AFL chairman, Mike Fitzpatrick and Demetriou announced that the Gold Coast Football Club would enter the AFL in 2011. Demetriou is best known for his position as CEO of the Australian Football League. "I think the task is absolutely massive," says Ireland. He is currently single. Cypriot immigrants would leave a massive hole at the footy kicking, which forces two-time offenders into rehabilitation before suspension. 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