CYCLING: The board of Cycling Australia (CA) has announced the appointment of Gerry Ryan OAM as the new president of Cycling Australia.The appointment was ratified at a meeting of the CA board on the weekend and Ryan said it was a privilege to take on the presidency.

“I look forward to helping CA move forward in a more commercially viable manner,” said Ryan, who has a proven history of corporate success across a diverse range of industries and is a passionate supporter of sport across various codes.

The President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) John Coates congratulated Ryan on his appointment.

“This is a great appointment,” Coates said. “Gerry has made a tremendous contribution to the sport for over two decades. He has supported individual riders including Kathy Watt when she won gold in 1992 and he has sponsored cycling tours, cycling programs and more recently he formed the GreenEdge Team.

“He is committed to the sport and his drive and passion in the role of CA President will be of great benefit to cyclists at all levels,” Coates said.

Whilst pointing to the sporting achievements of Australian riders in 2013, Ryan acknowledged that changes are required at an operational level.

“We currently have Australian world champions in each of the Road, Track, MTB and BMX disciplines, we’ve won stages in each of the three men’s grand tours for the first time ever this year and we recently crowned Caroline Buchanan as the youngest ever female winner of the “Oppy” cyclist of the year medal.“

However, there is certainly restructuring required to tighten processes and reduce the inefficient duplication of resources,” said Ryan, who will be joined by experienced former AFL administrator Adrian Anderson in the role of interim chief executive officer until February, when a permanent CEO will be recruited.

“I look forward to working closely with Adrian over the coming months to create a collaborative environment that continues to deliver champion riders across the four disciplines, but does so in a manner that is underpinned by sound business principles.”

Commenting on his own appointment Anderson said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I look forward to progressing governance reform and working towards establishing a stable financial platform from which to grow the sport,” said Anderson. "I also look forward to strengthening public faith in the integrity of Australian cycling by continuing to implement reforms from the Wood Review in a transparent manner."

Anderson was General Manager, Football Operations of the AFL for a period of nine years where he implemented reforms of the disciplinary system, the laws of the game and the player movement system. He also established the AFL integrity Unit and Illicit Drugs Policy and negotiated the introduction of Free Agency and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. He has recently advised a number of sports on integrity processes and governance and commercial negotiations.

Australian Sports Commission Chair John Wylie AM welcomed the appointment of Ryan at this important time for the sport.

“It is fitting and most welcome that a person so well respected by corporate Australia takes on the presidency of CA at this critical time of major reform for the sport,” Wylie said. 

Cycling Australia with AOC