Andrew Abdo was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League (NRL) in April 2020. Together with Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys AM, Andrew played a pivotal role in 2020 that saw the NRL become the first national sporting code to return to the field following the suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move credited with saving the code from bankruptcy. Since that time, the NRL’s revenues have grown to a record $701m with net assets over $260m. Andrew’s period of leadership has been defined by a period of record commercial and broadcasting success, with the NRL now Australia’s most watched sport. With a background in corporate finance, Andrew has led the commercial growth of the sport through innovations in sponsorship, events and digital experiences, including the creation of Magic Round and establishing an in-house creative agency for partners. He believes sport is about entertainment, about bringing people and communities together, and in helping deliver social change. In 2024, Andrew successfully led the NRL’s historic push into the US market, with the Las Vegas Round marking the NRL as the only Australia code to play competitive Premiership matches outside of Australia. Andrew is a qualified Chartered Accountant, holds an MBA and enjoyed a successful finance career in Johannesburg before he and his family migrated to Sydney in 2012 where he took up a role with Deloitte Australia before joining the NRL.