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View Full Version : Horsburgh new Essendon Chairman


DaSawx
22 Sep 2006, 10:47
The Essendon Football Club board tonight voted Ray Horsburgh in as the new Chairman of the Club, replacing Neil McKissock who officially stood down from the position at tonight’s board meeting.

McKissock had previously announced his intentions at last week’s Crichton Medal function. In other changes announced following the meeting, Daryl Jackson was voted in as the new vice-chairman of the Club while Chief Executive Peter Jackson has joined the board in the capacity of Managing Director.

"I just wanted to make a contribution to this football club when I first joined the board two years ago. If my fellow directors see this interest best served with me as chairman I am honoured to take on the role," Horsburgh said following the meeting.

Horsburgh congratulated and thanked Neil McKissock for his efforts in the job over the past three years.

"Neil has always had the best interests of the Club at heart and he should be applauded for that. Neil made it clear that this was a decision he reached in the name of succession planning and the implementation of change," Horsburgh said.

"I think it was a selfless decision he took in terms of standing down and also from a timing perspective. I think he should be applauded for that courage and it sends an important message to everyone on the board. We are there to represent the members of the club and occasional change ensures we do this most effectively."

Horsburgh said the return of Essendon to finals’ football was the key challenge that confronted his board moving forward.

"Clearly we are in a position of strength as a business and we will again announce a significant profit this season. So off field we are in a solid position. What we all want is to get Essendon back playing in September and to win the ultimate prize. That is the priority for all of us," he said.

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Ray was appointed to the Board in August 2003. He is the Managing Director & CEO of the Smorgon Steel Group employing over 6000 employees and with a turnover of $2.6 billion. He is a member of the Business Council of Australia, Chairman of the Harness Racing Committee of Moonee Valley and a Director and past Chairman of the Williamstown and Westbourne Grammar Schools. Ray is a life long supporter of the E.F.C and was a foundation member of the Diamond Dons Coterie and is currently a member of the Uptown Dons Coterie.

I hope he knows a little more about footy than his counterpart at Carlton

thebigboy
22 Sep 2006, 11:05
Hopefully he will do a great job for the club.

Philzsay
22 Sep 2006, 11:18
I know nothing about Horsburgh. I do hope that his Chairmanship style is more like Greame McMahons was like as opposed to McKissocks. McKissock didn't seem to have the public fire in the belly that McMahon had.

Longy413
22 Sep 2006, 11:24
I actually thought that was a good thing Phil.

McMahon had too much to say at times, we've already got Sheedy to do that.

Jasiano
22 Sep 2006, 13:31
Good luck Ray. :D

Philzsay
22 Sep 2006, 13:42
I have probably got a bit of personal bias here as I have met Greame a few times and he always seemed like a top bloke who absolutely loved the club.

I am sure McKissock did a lot of good for the club but I was a bit dissapointed in the way the whole alternate jumper issue was handled.

Anyway, Hopefully Ray will be be an excellent chairman.

ant555
22 Sep 2006, 13:49
I have probably got a bit of personal bias here as I have met Greame a few times and he always seemed like a top bloke who absolutely loved the club.

I am sure McKissock did a lot of good for the club but I was a bit dissapointed in the way the whole alternate jumper issue was handled.

Anyway, Hopefully Ray will be be an excellent chairman.


Interesting that a lot of people attacked him for not taking the Eddy stand and not coming out blowing a lot of hot air. Did it get Collingwood anywhere? No not really they still changed the jumper they submited the first time to their last herritage strip so at the end of the day they had to abide by the rules as well.

Merv
22 Sep 2006, 14:07
I think the fact that he will step down from his role with Smorgans is a real positive and shows he is prepared to give his full committment to Essendon.

Good luck in the role and lets look forward to returning as a power again.

Philzsay
22 Sep 2006, 14:10
Interesting that a lot of people attacked him for not taking the Eddy stand and not coming out blowing a lot of hot air. Did it get Collingwood anywhere? No not really they still changed the jumper they submited the first time to their last herritage strip so at the end of the day they had to abide by the rules as well.

Taking the Eddie stand was not so much the issue for me. What was dissapointing to myself was the lack of communication early on to the members. The story was broken in the press and the extraordinary meeting over the issue only occured after so many members kicked up a fuss. Every thing came out in the meeting which was good, however to myself it just seemed that the whole thing was reactionary in nature. I just feel that if the board had communicated earlier to us about the issue a lot of the drama could have been avoided.

Anyway it is an old issue now.

Crave
22 Sep 2006, 14:12
Ive never really been familiar with anyone on the Board to be truthful. I would be hoping to see a modern day retiree (circa 80s/90s) at that level very shortly. Regardless, his credentials show that he comes from a good pedigree in business

silk
22 Sep 2006, 14:14
Interesting that a lot of people attacked him for not taking the Eddy stand and not coming out blowing a lot of hot air. Did it get Collingwood anywhere? No not really they still changed the jumper they submited the first time to their last herritage strip so at the end of the day they had to abide by the rules as well.

Kept Collingwood in the papers, which was probaly the main aim.

ant555
22 Sep 2006, 14:16
Taking the Eddie stand was not so much the issue for me. What was dissapointing to myself was the lack of communication early on to the members. The story was broken in the press and the extraordinary meeting over the issue only occured after so many members kicked up a fuss. Every thing came out in the meeting which was good, however to myself it just seemed that the whole thing was reactionary in nature. I just feel that if the board had communicated earlier to us about the issue a lot of the drama could have been avoided.

Anyway it is an old issue now.

That was the part of it they stuffed up i agree.They made a poor judgment call by not coming out with some sort of statement even if it was only that the club was looking at it options.
I find it amusing that some people want to point the finger solely at McKissock when in reality the whole board knew about it in febuary.

DaSawx
24 Sep 2006, 13:26
Good start IMO as he looks to put some spending into recruiting

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=299597

go_the_bombers
24 Sep 2006, 13:59
Good start IMO as he looks to put some spending into recruiting

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=299597

Off to a good start:thumbsu: