The Adelaide Football Club has appointed one of the country’s leading sports administrators as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Andrew Fagan joins the Crows from Australian Rugby Union, where he held the position of General Manager of National Teams, Competitions and Rugby Operations.

He has been responsible for the strategic and commercial management of the Wallabies, Australia’s Rugby Sevens Teams, National Competitions, all Test Match operations, Australian Super Rugby, and the national governing body’s relationship with the International Rugby Board.

South Australian-born Fagan is also a former long-time Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s most successful Super Rugby Club, the University of Canberra Brumbies.

He has held a number of sports management roles at the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport, with a focus on national policy development and fostering of programs in the Asia-Pacific.

Fagan has also delivered management consultancy advice to national sporting organisations across a range of strategic, commercial and high performance matters.

Adelaide Football Club Chairman Rob Chapman said Fagan was the standout candidate after a long and exhaustive search.

“Andrew has an extensive background in sports administration, and is the ideal person to take our Club forward,” Chapman said.

“He has been a senior executive at a governing body and also led a successful elite sporting club.

“Andrew has done in recent times, much of what our Club needs to achieve in the next few years.”

Fagan, who holds a Bachelor of Sports Management and Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the University of Canberra, is excited about the challenges ahead.

“The Crows are a strong national brand, boasting a world class stadium, a loyal and passionate supporter base, and talented playing squad,” Fagan said.

“In saying that, there is a great deal of upside still to be realised both on and off the field and I am looking forward to maximising those opportunities.”

Fagan will start at the Club early next month.