Swimming Australia Lands A Major Coup With Rob Woodhouse Appointed New CEO

Swimming Australia Lands A Major Coup With Rob Woodhouse Appointed New CEO

To say this is a major coup for the sport’s governing body is an understatement – Woodhouse could well become the sport’s saviour, with the appointment of the 57-year-old who has dedicated his life to swimming – just the man the sport needs to guide it through to Brisbane 2032.

POOL OF EXPERIENCE: Rob Woodhouse perfect man for the job. Photo Courtesy Rob Woodhouse Collection.

Woodhouse, who has been based in the UK, will take over the reigns of Swimming Australia in time for the final countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It is a major boost for the sport and his appointment will be greeted with open arms from all corners of the pool deck and the corridors of power.

A man who is passionate about the sport, who has “been there done that” as a swimmer who went on to manage some of the biggest names in the business and also played a key role in the International Swimming League (ISL).

Woodhouse paved the way in athlete management when he formed Elite Sports Property (ESP- TLA Worldwide) with ex-AFL star Craig Kelly in 1996 in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics – providing sponsorship and media pathways for athletes such as Susie O’Neill, Michael Klim and Shane Gould and who in recent times has guided the careers of Emma McKeon and Adam Peaty – amongst a bevy of stars.

(Just last year, the highly respected Kelly, was appointed CEO of his beloved Collingwood – with the Magpies winning the 2024 premiership.)

On the road to Sydney 2000, Woodhouse and his team played key roles in growing the ESP business through his vast experience as one of Australia’s best international swimmers – a dual Olympian in 1984 and 1988 who won  bronze behind Canada’s Alex Baumann in the ‘84 LA Games.

(Woodhouse is following Baumann into the chair as a CEO of Swimming Australia – a role he filled briefly in 2021.)

In the 1990s it was Woodhouse’s nous, forward thinking, connections, and his ability that build relationships with Swimming Australia, it’s marketing and media team, sponsors and his athletes for the betterment of all parties.

It was Woodhouse who put together a personal deal for O’Neill with three of Swimming Australia’s sponsors – Qantas, Speedo and Telstra which revolutionised personal and National Federation sponsors.

It came after a tumultuous period where several of Australia’s leading swimmers, like O’Neill and Kieren Perkins were at loggerheads with the governing body over conflicting sponsorship deals.

It was Woodhouse who broke down barriers along the way with smart negotiating and planning to forge “win, win”  situations.

At the same time Woodhouse also played a key role in the media as a long time commentator for ABC radio at Olympic and Commonwealth Games and World and Australian Championships.

Working alongside the likes of Mike McCann, Norman May, Gerry Collins  and Clint Wheeldon and providing his expert analysis.

Woodhouse’s appointment will provide Swimming Australia with not only a man who is passionate about swimming but a shrewd operator and businessman who understands swimmers, coaches, officials and the commercial aspects of a sport that will now revel in his leadership.

ENGLISH CHANNEL CONQUERER: Rob Woodhouse conquers the Channel. Photo Courtesy Rob Woodhouse Collection.

The Woodhouse family is considered swimming royalty in Australia with Rob’s father Tony Woodhouse a longstanding official and National selector, his sister Susie Woodhouse joined Rob on the 1982 Commonwealth Games team.

And Susie would marry another ’82 team member Ron McKeon – himself an Olympic team mate of Woohouse’s in 1984 – with Susie and Ron marrying and later producing Olympians of their own in Emma and David – who Rob would manage in their own right.

Late this afternoon in  Australia the Swimming Australia Board confirmed the appointment of a man who is highly credentialled and respected across the sports, business and swimming communities, having forged a successful international career in sports administration over almost 30 years.

“Rob is an Olympian who represented Australia at both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, as well as the 1982, 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games, after which he retired from swimming,” the release said.

“He founded Elite Sports Properties, a talent management business across the UK and Australia, in 1996 and continued to work in the business after selling it to TLA Worldwide (TGI Sport).

“His combination of global experience and local connections makes Woodhouse the perfect candidate to lead the sport into the future, with an eye on Paris and Los Angeles, and a focus on the opportunities ahead with the Brisbane Games.

“His experience in high performance and commercial delivery, alongside his passion for the sports development from the grassroots, sets Swimming Australia up for growth in the short and longer term.

“Rob’s appointment is a great coup for our sport and we are delighted to be able to bring him back to Australia to lead us from an impressive number of candidates throughout the process.

“Rob was a standout and we are delighted he is joining us.”

The prospect of guiding the future of Australian swimming and harnessing its potential is what attracted Woodhouse to the role, saying: “Leading and shaping the future of swimming in Australia is an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to return home to take on this role.

“Swimming is, and has always been, my passion and it is an honour to lead Australian Swimming as we head into the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond to the home Games in 2032.

“We are a nation of swimmers. My focus is to build an environment that inspires and enables our entire swimming community to perform to their potential together, in and out of the water.”