oPanthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher has confirmed he will step down from the role next year.
Fletcher confirmed to the Weekender this afternoon his time at the club was coming to an end.
The 71-year-old has played a pivotal role in what has been a successful era for the Group and the rugby league club, which has won four consecutive Grand Finals.
His departure will spark plenty of speculation over who will take on one of the biggest jobs in clubland.
Fletcher had already taken a back seat in regards to rugby league operations with the highly regarded Matt Cameron moving into a Rugby League CEO role in 2022.
Fletcher will stand down after a decade in the top job. Prior to that he served as Chairman.
A country boy at heart, Fletcher was born in Coonamble in central western New South Wales in 1953.
He still has strong ties with his home town but it’s Hawkesbury Race Club where he made his name in the business world prior to Panthers.
When he arrived in 1989 Hawkesbury Race Club had a $1 million debt, but under Fletcher’s leadership was debt free three years later. He stayed at the club as its CEO for more than two decades.
An exact departure date for Fletcher is unknown though it will be in the first quarter of 2026. He informed staff of his decision over recent days, though it’s been widely known within Panthers that such an announcement was looming.
Chairman Peter Graham paid tribute to Fletcher’s impact on the club.
“On behalf of the Panthers Group board, I want to sincerely thank Brian for his tireless service to the Panthers,” he said.
“Brian’s leadership over the past 10 years has helped build a successful organisation. We are grateful for everything he has done to position the club for long-term strength.”
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.