The Board of Football Australia today confirmed that the contract of their internationally respected Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, has been extended until the end of 2024.
James Johnson joined Football Australia in January 2020 on a three-year contract. Since being appointed, Johnson has served with distinction, despite a period of great volatility almost immediately upon commencing in the role, with COVID-19 taking its toll on the Australian football community and the Australian community at large.
This contract extension will see Johnson remain in charge through the FIFA World Cup 2022TM, FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023TM, AFC Asian Cup 2023TM and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The extension will also allow Johnson to continue to lead the work being undertaken with Football Australia's 15-year vision embodied by the XI Principles for the future of Australian football, as well as the bold and ambitious Legacy '23 plan to leave an everlasting legacy for the sport beyond the global tournament being held on our shores in a year's time, a key priority of Football Australia.
Chris Nikou, Chair of Football Australia, said that the Board was unanimous in reaching the decision to extend Johnson's contract and congratulated him.
"James's tenure since January 2020 has coincided with a period of great progress and development and on behalf our board, I am delighted to confirm that James will remain in the chair until the end of 2024. We knew that he was a visionary and collaborative leader who brought a great understanding of the game from a global perspective and importantly a local one."
"He has been able to make enormous impact and progress as the game's Chief Executive, guiding the organisation out of COVID-19, leading the successful bid to co-host the FIFA Women's World Cup TM, developing and implementing a new 15-year vision for the sport, finalising the unbundling of the professional leagues from Football Australia and overseeing a commercial turn-around of the organisation as we now enter an exciting and pivotal period for the sport."
"Given the strong progress made under James's leadership, it was vitally important to the Board that we extended the contract, so that we can continue the strong trajectory our game has taken under his leadership," Nikou said.
Johnson said: "We have taken enormous steps forward as a sport over the last couple of years and I have been extremely proud of what we have achieved. Despite enduring one of its most challenging periods, our community has shown its resilience and continues to thrive. This new administration has remained focused and returned Football Australia to a strong financial position and to date, has secured more than $230 million in legacy contributions from Federal and State Governments for the future of Australian football.
"The best for Australian football is ahead of us, and I am privileged and excited to be leading the game into this next phase. In the next 12 months, we will participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM and host the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM - two of the biggest sporting events on the planet and an opportunity to leverage the world game which we will not see again in our lifetime."
"I would like to thank the Football Australia Board for the faith they continue to place in me, my Executive team, and staff, as well as the games' stakeholders for their support. I remain committed to bringing our game closer together and elevating Australian football to global standards to drive positive football outcomes for generations to come," Johnson concluded.
