Racing Victoria Manager of Strategy & Development Andrew Catterall, one of Racing Victoria’s most senior officials and a key figure in its media rights future, "has quit," according to Nicholson & Schlink of the HERALD SUN. He "resigned because of a fundamental difference with the RV Board over media rights."
He is believed "to have resigned after arguing with the board."
Catterall created RV’s new and expensive website, Racing.com, and "was seen as the person capable of elevating racing’s media exposure to levels" akin to the Australian Football League, where he previously worked for eight years (HERALD SUN, 2/17). NEWS LIMITED's Brendan Cormick reported Catterall’s approach "put him at odds with many in the industry and has left Victoria isolated and seemingly at odds with RV management."
He "leaves his position with a broadcast rights deal for racing with the cashed-up Tabcorp’s Sky Racing not inked but tantisingly close" (NEWS LIMITED, 2/17). In Sydney, Bartley & Pierik reported former AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou believes the departure of Catterall "will be a major blow to the sport in this state."
Demetriou, who worked closely with Catterall when the latter was a senior executive at the AFL, said that "he was surprised by the events that unfolded on Tuesday." Demetriou:
"He had a super mind and when he was in charge of strategy at the AFL, he worked on every major project. I am absolutely an Andrew Catterall fan. I know he could be a bit brash, but you can never doubt his work ethic" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/17).
