Adelaide Basketball appoints new CEO and introduces advisory board
Adelaide Basketball has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer and Advisory Board to help guide and grow the Adelaide 36ers and Adelaide Lightning basketball clubs.
Experienced sports administrator, Ben Kavenagh, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, while former Adelaide Crows and Carlton Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Steven Trigg, will chair the Advisory Board.
In a sign of his ever-increasing commitment to basketball in South Australia, the clubs’ owner, Grant Kelley, has selected a group of experienced professionals to assist the club in reaching the next level of professionalism.
The Advisory board includes owner and managing director of Michels Warren, Phil Martin; managing partner of Moore Stephens, Grant Miles; CEO of Statewide Super, Richard Nunn; Olympian and Adelaide Lightning legend, Rachael Sporn and managing director of Heitman, John White.
The club’s newly appointed CEO, Ben Kavenagh, also brings to the club 20 years of experience in sports administration, having worked in various management roles across basketball, football, cricket and golf.
Kavenagh has CEO experience, having lead former NBL club, the Geelong Supercats, as well as the South Adelaide Football Club.
He is the current General Manager of Glenelg Golf Club and also worked for the International Cricket Council heading up the Americas region.
Kavenagh, who holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Commerce, a Graduate Certificate of Sports Management and a Diploma of Applied Science, is excited about the challenge ahead.
“The Adelaide 36ers and Adelaide Lightning are iconic South Australian brands boasting passionate and engaged supporter bases and talented playing squads.
“Following an exhilarating season for the 36ers, as well as a ground-breaking period for the NBL, we need to keep capitalising on the significant momentum around the sport, the league and the club.
“There is a great opportunity for further growth with outreach programs from both a community and corporate perspective that I am looking forward to exploring.
“I’m also keen to engage with Basketball SA to maximise pathway opportunities into our programs from the state’s elite local talent.
“So, I see no ceiling on what can be achieved. It’s a very exciting time to be involved,” he said.
Kavenagh will start at the club in early July, while the advisory board will be under way soon.
Former Adelaide Basketball CEO, Asa Cowell, will lead the club until Kavenagh’s arrival and will then be promoted to CEO of Grant Kelley’s Holdfast Group.