Football Australia is pleased to announce a series of key leadership changes as the organisation embarks on a new period of further growth and success.
The changes within Football Australia's management team are part of a concerted effort by the Board and Management to maximise both the current and future opportunities of the organisation and sport as a whole, which includes a restructure of the Executive Team.
This will involve new appointments and the redefinition of existing roles within the direct reporting structure of Chief Executive Officer James Johnson, ensuring alignment with Football Australia's strategic agenda.
James Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia said, "Football Australia has enjoyed immense success over the past four years with the organisation seeing record commercial growth, enhanced public visibility, soaring participation rates and success on the international stage for our CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
"As we embark on new FIFA World Cup™ cycles, it is imperative that our strategy and organisational structures are finely tuned to address the challenges and seize the opportunities that will shape our future success. I am confident that these strategic adjustments will not only fortify Football Australia's position but also pave the way for continued excellence in the years to come."
As part of the changes, Football Australia is pleased to announce Gary Moretti as the new Head of National Teams. Gary is a self-motivated and process-driven individual with extensive international football competition experience, overseeing the operational management of senior professional national football events and teams.
Moretti has worked with organisations such as FIFA, Asian Football Confederation, Oceania Football Confederation, and Football Australia contributing to match scheduling and operations, event management, international football staff coordination, budget control, and program delivery within a football event management and high-performance environment.
As a highly communicative, well-organised, and results-driven leader, Moretti is focused on providing Football Australia’s national teams and competition operations with the highest standard of administrative, operational, and technical expertise. He excels under pressure and has a proven track record of leading teams to achieve required goals. Moretti's leadership and coordination skills in international football settings will be invaluable to Football Australia.
James Johnson, expressed his enthusiasm about Moretti joining the team, stating, "We are thrilled to have Gary Moretti on board as our new Head of National Teams. His vast experience and expertise in managing international football events and teams will be a tremendous asset to Football Australia.
“Gary's proven track record in leading high-profile global tournaments and his exceptional leadership skills make him the ideal candidate to drive our performance initiatives. I am confident that Gary's contributions will play a pivotal role in our continued pursuit of excellence on the global stage."
The changes to the Football Australia executive team include (in alphabetical order by surname):
Alex Davani steps into the role of Chief of Staff building on his experience as Head of Executive Office and Strategy since January 2021. Davani will continue to focus on driving strategic initiatives across all areas of the organisation with Government Relations and International Relations coming under his purview as Chief of Staff.
Peter Filopoulos assumes the role of Chief Officer for Corporate Affairs, Brand, and Communications, bringing a wealth of experience in brand transformation within the sports and entertainment industry. With a proven track record in securing substantial funding for football infrastructure and holding leadership positions across various sports organisations, Filopoulos well-equipped to spearhead Football Australia's initiatives in corporate affairs, marketing, communications, major events, and inclusion, driving the organisation toward new heights of success.
Tom Rischbieth is appointed Chief Revenue Officer, responsible for the organisation's commercial revenue and business development pursuits. Tom's international and local experience in commercial rights management, sport diplomacy initiatives, and strategic partnerships will be instrumental in driving Football Australia's revenue growth.
Sarah Walsh transitions to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ Office, continuing her work on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ and overseeing the function as Australia finalises the bid with the Asian Football Confederation. Walsh's leadership in driving football's national Legacy'23 plan and her extensive experience as a former Matilda and in driving gender equity in governance underscore her commitment to creating lasting social and economic change for football.
Mell Mallam’s role as General Counsel and Ernie Merrick’s as Chief Football Officer, remain unchanged.
James Johnson's direct reporting structure now includes:
- Alex DAVANI – Chief of Staff
- Peter FILOPOULOS -- Chief Officer for Corporate Affairs, Brand and Communications
- Mel MALLAM -- General Counsel
- Ernie MERRICK – Chief Football Officer
- Gary MORETTI – Head of National Teams (commencing 11 June 2024)
- Tom RISCHBIETH – Chief Revenue Officer
- Sarah WALSH – Head of AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ Office
- To be advised – Chief Financial Officer
Additionally, Football Australia is currently recruiting for a Chief Financial Officer.
Alongside these changes, Football Australia bids farewell to current Chief Operating Officer, Mark Falvo, after 15 years of dedicated service and his final day will be 17 April 2024.
James Johnson expressed his gratitude to Mark Falvo, stating, "Mark’s journey with Football Australia has been marked by profound dedication and passion, significantly contributing to the shape and successes of Football Australia as we know it today. While we bid farewell to Mark, we are immensely grateful for his years of service, commitment, and countless contributions he has made. We wish Mark the very best for his future endeavours."
