Insider Sport’s weekly roundup spotlighting the key moves shaping the business of sport.
Laurence Stewart is leaving Chelsea as Co-Sporting Director. Julian Metherell begins a term as Marylebone Cricket Club President, and Munster Rugby name Avan Lee Interim CEO. Elsewhere, Nottinghamshire confirmed Michael Temple as CEO.
Read this week’s Sideline Moves below.
Laurence Stewart to leave Chelsea
Chelsea Co-Sporting Director Laurence Stewart is leaving the club by mutual consent. Stewart joined Chelsea from Monaco in October 2022 as Technical Director and became Co-Sporting Director alongside Paul Winstanley in February 2023.
He signed a contract to 2031 after Chelsea won the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025, and leaves about five years early at the age of 40. Chelsea do not plan a like-for-like replacement.
Winstanley, Director of Global Recruitment Sam Jewell and Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent Joe Shields will absorb Stewart’s responsibilities and report to co-owners Behdad Eghbali and José E Feliciano, working with Head Coach Xabi Alonso.
The club have described the move as a “natural evolution” of Chelsea’s football leadership, part of a restructure Eghbali set out in April. However, the exit is the first significant change to Chelsea’s football structure since Clearlake Capital took full control after acquiring Todd Boehly and Mark Walters’ stakes.
Munster name Lee Interim CEO
Munster Rugby appointed Avan Lee as Interim CEO. Lee takes over when Ian Flanagan steps down at the end of the month, on an initial 12-month term.
Lee was CEO of the Hurricanes in New Zealand from 2015 to 2025 and has since worked as a consultant for World Rugby. Lee said he was “honoured” by the appointment and is treating the interim role as a permanent one.
Nottinghamshire confirm Temple as CEO
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club have appointed Michael Temple as CEO. Temple takes the role permanently after serving as Interim CEO and Commercial Director. He has worked at Glamorgan and the London Olympic Stadium, with two earlier spells at Nottinghamshire across 16 seasons at Trent Bridge.
Chairman Andy Hunt said Temple had provided “assured leadership” as Interim CEO. Trent Bridge hosts the men’s and women’s Ashes in 2027.
Tennessee Titans dismiss three business executives
The Tennessee Titans dismissed three business executives this week. Chief Revenue Officer Adam Nuse, SVP of Brand Marketing Erin Swartz and VP of Creative Charles Jensen left the NFL franchise. The Titans have changed head-coach and front-office leadership repeatedly since 2024, including the departure of president of football operations Chad Brinker in April.
Snapshot Moves
- Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie has resigned, the NRL expansion club announced on 9 October. De Ceglie, a former Seven West Media executive, was the club’s first CEO, appointed in May 2025 to establish the team before its league debut.
- Hometown Soccer Holdings named Eric Strumwasser Chief Financial and Operating Officer, working across its portfolio of clubs, including a new New Jersey MLS Next Pro team.
Submit your people moves to Insider Sport’s Editor, Louis Thompsett, at [email protected] to be featured in the next edition of Sideline Moves.
Catch up on last week’s Sideline Moves, where Mats Enquist was named Solidsport chairman.
