St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis has expressed his gratitude on behalf of the club to departing administrators Terry Dillon and Shane Wakelin who leave following a restructure of the Saints’ commercial business.

“Terry has been a highly effective and diligent leader of our business since joining the club as Chief Operating Officer two and half years ago,” Finnis said.

“Throughout his tenure, Terry has been instrumental behind the scenes in many of the club’s key strategic ventures such as the push into New Zealand and proposed redevelopment of Moorabbin.  Terry is someone who has always acted with the best interests of the club at heart and has developed the respect and friendship amongst numerous staff and stakeholders throughout his tenure.

“Shane renewed his professional relationship with the club in 2012 in the role of GM – Commercial Operations, having previously played for the Saints between 1994 and 2000,” Finnis said.

“Everyone who knows Shane and has worked with him in his role at the Saints will attest to his professionalism and engaging personality but also the acumen he is developing in commercial business.  In a challenging role and context, Shane has been a tireless ambassador of the virtues of our club and worked very closely with our commercial partners to support them leverage their involvement with St Kilda.

Finnis advised St Kilda’s on and off-field staff on Monday that many of the responsibilities previously overseen by Dillon and Wakelin will in the future be assumed under the new role of Chief Commercial Officer.  This position will have executive carriage of all corporate & commercial facing aspects of the Saints business including sponsorship, events, corporate sales, hospitality, fundraising and brand marketing.

The St Kilda CEO subsequently announced the appointment of experienced sports marketer Christine Finnegan as the club’s new Chief Commercial Officer. 

Finnegan began her career in federal politics but switched to sport in 1998 - subsequently holding sponsorship acquisition roles at Tennis Australia, the Commonwealth Games and Super Rugby team ACT Brumbies. 

She has also held GM - Commercial & Marketing roles at the Melbourne Storm, AFLPA and the Melbourne Rebels driving strong brand and commercial revenue growth in all organisations.

“Christine is a highly experienced leader of people, has terrific marketing expertise and a strong professional reputation in the various commercial areas over which she will have responsibility at the Saints,” Finnis said.

Finnegan is expected to begin her new role at the Saints towards the end of next month.