NBL: Kestelman continues restoration process with new faces
With the 2015/16 NBL season fast approaching, majority owner Larry Kestelman is already stomping his footprint on the rebuilding league.
This week it was announced that three new board members have been appointed, in Bob Elphinstone OAM, Laura Anderson and Colin Smith.
“When acquiring the NBL we gave our commitment to establish a strong Board of Directors and senior executive team to lead the league into a new era,” said NBL Executive Director Larry Kestelman.
These appointments exemplify that Kestelman doesn't back down on promises. If he's committed to the job, the NBL will prosper; it's just a matter of time.
In an additional appointment,Jeremy Loeliger has been named as the new General Manager of the league.
A new focus in which Mr Loeliger will tackle first in his new role for the NBL is surrounding the introduction of Asian players.
“A key mandate for Jeremy will be to drive both local and international engagement. We are particularly excited by the opportunities for international engagement with a focus in Asia.
“Basketball is an Australian sporting code that will continue to build and leverage its brand awareness campaign in this market. Along with soccer, basketball is regarded as one of the highest participation sports in Asia. One of our key enablers of success will be our engagement with the global community." - Kestelman stated
With the NBL now well and truly headed in the right direction, now is the time for the Australian public to jump aboard basketball within our borders.
While NBA stardom has attracted many Australian viewers to watch global basketball, the standard of NBL is ever on the rise.
The faltering pattern in recent years was that the game was not marketed to its full potential. Kestelman has again attempted to manage this with creative agency 'Publicis Mojo' jumping on board to assist in rebranding the competition.
With a large team on hand, Publicis Mojo will look into a range of things before transforming the NBL into something both players and fans will love and enjoy long term.
The NBL have advised that "the new Board members begin their appointments on 1 July 2015 and join the current members Adrian Garrone and Chair of the Board Graeme Wade (current President and Chair of CPA Australia)."
In club news, the Wollongong Hawks have gone back to their roots and rebranded as the Illawarra Hawks.
Kestelman explain that "“Sport is the lifeblood of regional communities and our new agenda for the NBL includes a commitment of over $6 million to support regional clubs such as the Hawks, to create better fan engagement initiatives and new marketing campaigns which will go a long way to delivering a premium entertainment product to the Illawarra.”
With the Hawks wanting to get themselves back up and running after escaping voluntary administration, the franchise have announced that ex-NBL championship winning coach Rob Beveridge as the successor to Gordie McLeod.
As Beveridge controls the Illawarra sidelines for season 2015/16, it poses the question whether past NBL most valuable player Kevin Lisch will return to Australia and play under Beveridge once again.