Kylie Rogers, a key figure on the AFL Executive since 2017, has accepted a role to become the first female CEO of the Victorian Racing Club (VRC).
Rogers worked over 20 years in media with Network 10 and Mamamia, before joining the AFL, where she took on a host of responsibilities, including driving revenue, monitoring corporate partnerships, advertising, licensing, membership, ticketing, marketing and more.
She has overseen the operation and expansion of Marvel Stadium for both sporting and non-sporting events, assisting the venues growth in becoming one of the larger business hotspots in the Southern Hemisphere.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon congratulated Rogers on her time with the AFL, which he says was littered with success and growth.
“Kylie is a great leader, a great strategist but above all she is simply a great person that everyone wants on their team. Having her part of the AFL Executive over the past seven years has not only built stronger partnerships with our corporate and media partners, her leadership and drive has made us a better organisation,” Dillon said.
“I know I speak for all across the AFL and wider industry in congratulating Kylie and thanking her for her care for our team and for the football fans who she has consistently put first. Whether securing Toyota AFL Grand Final artists like Robbie Williams, to expanding the reach and impact of AFL Media, driving the marketing of AFLW or working with the clubs to better connect with fans across the country, she has done it all with passion and personality," he added.
“She had aspirations to be a CEO and to lead an organisation again, and while I am personally sad to lose her, I am also excited that she is going to run another one of our great sporting institutions in the VRC.
“Kylie and her family will remain great friends of our game.”
Rogers herself expressed gratitude for the role she has played since 2017.
“Footy has this unbelievable ability to bring people together and to be able to play a role in helping keep the game affordable and accessible for all the fans is something I am really proud of," Rogers remarked.
“I want to thank Andrew Dillon, and our previous CEO Gillon McLachlan, for providing me and my family with an opportunity to be part of game that means so much to so many and I have made some great lifelong friendships across AFL organisation and across our commercial and media partners," she added.
“Being part of the AFL is something I am extremely proud of, I will finish some projects and complete a short handover, before joining and leading the VRC later this year, an organisation I am extremely excited and honoured to be leading.”
Rogers will hold her position with the AFL until the end of August, before the new role commences in September.
