Perth Glory FC is proud and delighted to announce, it has appointed Peter Filopoulos as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Filopoulos, currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Swimming Australia, heads to Perth, as one of the best and most experienced sports administrators in the country.
Peter’s passion, skill and knowledge of football can be traced back to the 90s, when he was CEO of National Soccer League powerhouse South Melbourne Football Club.
During his reign, the team was coached by current Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou which won back to back championships between 1997 and 1999 and qualified for the FIFA World Football Club championships in Brazil.
At the time, South Melbourne was a leading NSL club and was recognised by FIFA as the Oceania Club of the Century.
Filopoulos also held senior roles within AFL ranks, initially at Hawthorn and then at North Melbourne Football clubs, driving the marketing, sales and corporate portfolios.
For more than seven years he was a senior leader at the world class Etihad Stadium in Melbourne where he negotiated multi-million dollar sponsorship agreements and successfully oversaw the commercial and marketing activities for the stadium.
As Chief Commercial Officer at Swimming Australia, Filopoulos played a key role in securing a major sponsorship deal with WA based Hancock Prospecting and other significant sponsors. He also played a leading role in re-branding the sport, which also included the re-launch of the Australian Swim Team back to the ‘Dolphins’.
Filopoulos, who is currently overseas with his family, said he was excited to be appointed CEO of Perth Glory FC and heads to Western Australia with one goal in mind.
“Perth Glory is a gem waiting to be polished. It set the benchmark of what a football club should be during the NSL and now it’s time to get the Glory days back on and off the field, for the benefit of the game the members and the fans” he said.
“I want to be part of a Perth Glory that leaves its mark in history for the right reasons, to create an environment where everyone is left scrambling for a ticket at the gate,”
“But we also want to instil a set of values and a culture that resonates with the community. If we can do that, then we’ve won half the battle” Filopoulos said.
The 47-year old made the CEO shortlist which included applicants from across Australia, the United States and the Middle-East.
Selection committee chairman Michael Brown said Filopoulos stood out from the crowd.
“After reviewing the shortlist, Peter was our preferred candidate and I think it’s safe to say that from here on, it will be a Perth Glory you haven’t seen before, for all the right reasons” Brown said.
Club Chairman Tony Sage thanked Brown and the selection committee, which included club Chief Operating Officer John Boardman and newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Melissa Chapman.
“It was an independent process where John, Melissa and Michael worked tirelessly for several weeks, before arriving at their recommendation. I had no involvement in the process and I trusted their judgement completely” Sage said.
“As for the appointment of Peter Filopoulos, I am very excited he’s joining our family in the West. We have direction, a structure and a vision to take us forward and I think Perth’s football community should be buoyed that we have acted swiftly to try to turn things around,” he said.
Filopoulos will make a short visit to Perth in mid-July to meet staff and players, before returning in early August with his wife Mary and youngest son Jonathon, to start his tenure in Western Australia.
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