Danny Townsend beat "almost 70 rivals" to the A-League side Sydney FC CEO post, and the "unenviable task of filling the big shoes left behind" by Tony Pignata, who "turned around the club's finances and oversaw last season's premiership success" during his five-year tenure, according to James Buckley of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The former Parramatta Power and Sydney United player starts his new role in October. Townsend has worked in the media and entertainment fields "with major sporting clubs" in Europe, Asia and the U.S. He is the co-founder of sports intelligence agency Repucom, and was "more recently a co-global managing director of Nielsen Sports" (SMH, 8/22). In Sydney, Tom Smithies reported Townsend will start his new role in October with a brief to "drive the club's commercial revenues, crowds and memberships to a level commensurate with being A-League champions." Townsend "offers knowledge of the Sydney sporting landscape on the pitch and in the boardroom." Viewed as a "sponsorship and marketing expert, his role will undoubtedly focus on giving his new club more cut-through in a hugely competitive city." Townsend: "I am a born and raised Sydneysider with a passion for football and I am very proud to be Sydney FC's new CEO" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/21).
