THE CARLTON Football Club is pleased to announce the official commencement of Luke Sayers in the role of President.
Sayers formally begins in the role from today, having completed an extensive handover with incumbent President Mark LoGiudice, who announced earlier this year that this season would be his last after 12 years on the Board, eight of those as President.
A highly respected and successful business leader, Sayers has been a Director of the Club since 2012 and is currently the executive chairman of Sayers, a Melbourne-based investment and advisory company.
A father of four daughters, Sayers in 2019 received a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to business, to people with a disability, and to the community.
He recently held the position of CEO at PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia for eight years, where he provided leadership to a team of more than 700 partners and 8000 staff who partner with global, Asian and Australian businesses, governments, and entrepreneurs to help them grow and succeed.
In a letter to Carlton members, Sayers wrote that taking on the responsibility as the 31st President of the Carlton Football Club would come with a member-first and football focus.
“It is with enormous pride that I step into the role as President of the Carlton Football Club, however I do so knowing full well the responsibility I have to you, our members,” Sayers wrote.
“My overriding priority as I enter this role is the performance of our men’s and women’s football teams.
“We must never forget our core business. It is doing everything in our power to win games of football, to playing finals, and to put ourselves in a position to win premierships. That has to be our singular focus.
“Along with my fellow Directors and with the support of our staff, players and coaches, we will not shy away from our responsibility to improve the Club’s results on the field, to ensure they match the significant achievements we have made off it.
“My commitment, as the 31st President of this football club, is to ensure we do what is required to deliver on that responsibility.
Sayers has led the process of the Club’s independent review of the Football Department, saying the review was commissioned on the basis that the Club is not satisfied with on-field performance and owes it to club members and supporters to leave no stone unturned to improve the Club’s performance.
“For this reason, on 8 June, we commenced an independent review of our Football Department. This review was commissioned on the basis that as a football club, we are not satisfied with our on-field performance and we owe it to our members and supporters to conduct a process to ensure the necessary improvements are made.
“The independent, external panel last week provided an update to me, to the Board and to CEO Cain Liddle. This process is now reaching its final stages and I assure you we will not be making any public comment until we have directly communicated with you, our members. This will include providing you with the summarised findings of the review that I know members have a deep and justified interest in.
Sayers also acknowledged veterans Marc Murphy, Eddie Betts and Levi Casboult who will all depart the Club in season 2021.
“I’d like to also take this opportunity to acknowledge club champions Marc Murphy (300 games), Eddie Betts, who will this weekend play an incredible 350 games, and Levi Casboult who will all depart the Club this season after stellar careers in the Navy Blue. I wish them nothing but the best for the next chapters of their lives and thank them for everything they have contributed to our club, both on and off the field.”
“As a lifelong Carlton supporter, becoming President of our club is a huge honour, and I have a profound appreciation of my obligation to you and our club’s history. I look forward to sharing the journey with you and rising to this challenge.”
