Jeff Kennett has penned the following letter to members following Tuesday's announcement of Hawthorn's new CEO.
Good afternoon Hawkers,
I just thought I would give you a brief update on the things that have kept me busy on your behalf since I resumed the presidency of our great club two weeks ago today.
Firstly, I have met with all the senior executive team on a one on one basis, not only to re-introduce myself, but to bring myself up to speed on what they have been doing, where they are at, and their future aspirations.
I have got to say, but am not surprised, that the quality of the club’s senior executives is first class. Not only their personal values and commitment to Hawthorn, but their level of professionalism.
While other things may have been distracting the Board and the senior position at the club, our senior leaders, particularly under the leadership of Tim Silvers, kept the show humming as we would all want.
Therefore, I have inherited this time round a club in a very different position than I did in 2005.
Secondly, I have met with our coach on several occasions recently, and as late as yesterday over coffee before he heads off again overseas to further his own education and visit and observe other codes of sport and their facilities.
Alastair is in a good place and excited about next year. We, as always, are working well together in producing the results we all want and expect from Hawthorn.
I now have a good idea about his aspiration for the club across a range of activities over the next few years. More on these as time unfolds.
Importantly the Board has selected our new CEO Justin Reeves, appointing him to an initial term of five years.
His experience positions him well for the task ahead, having worked at both Collingwood and most recently the Geelong Football Club.
He has grown up in a football family, is married with two sons and in addition to the appropriate experience to take on the CEO role at Hawthorn, he has the personal values that we consider to be of utmost importance at the Family Club.
Justin will start at the club on Monday 30th October.
I have also been out to Waverley a couple of times and spoken to the staff. The Board also met to appoint the CEO, and will meet again in two weeks to receive a strategy presentation from the senior executive team.
I have several priorities that I wish to share with you:
- Continuing good governance at the Hawthorn Football Club
- The welfare of all our employees
- Supporting the football department to perform and deliver
- Development of our women’s football team
- Our relationship with our Indigenous community in Katherine
- Our continuing and building relationship with Tasmania
- Delivery of our Dingley facility
Again more on these will follow in the months ahead.
So much to do, so little time to do it!
The point of this note is to let you know that Hawthorn is not resting on its laurels and as we go into Christmas we are in fact gearing up for 2018.
I will keep dispatching missives like this to keep you informed of what is happening.
Anyway, good to be back. Thank you for the many comments of support.
Onwards and upwards at Hawthorn!
Jeff Kennett
