Perth Bears appoint interim CEO after Anthony De Ceglie resigns

Perth Bears announced on October 9 that inaugural chief executive Anthony De Ceglie was stepping down. Football general manager Gareth Holmes will take over temporarily as the club prepares to enter the NRL in 2027.

De Ceglie led the club through its establishment phase. He previously ran news and current affairs at Seven West Media and served as editor-in-chief of The West Australian. The squad is due to start preparing for its first season in a matter of weeks, with its competition debut still months away.

In the club statement, De Ceglie said he was proud of the staff's work over the past year and confident about the Bears' growth. He singled out head coach Mal Meninga and assistant Ben Gardiner, describing their time working together as a career highlight.

The Sydney Morning Herald linked the resignation to tensions within the leadership. Citing sources, it reported that De Ceglie lacked board support. That was the newspaper's account, rather than a reason for his departure announced by the club.

The franchise belongs to the Australian Rugby League Commission, whose chairman Peter V’landys appointed De Ceglie. Before the resignation, Meninga publicly said both men had internal support and stressed that the team was concentrating on its work.

The Bears expect to announce further plans for their chief executive position in the coming days. They will become the NRL's 18th team, entering a Perth sporting market where Australian rules football is especially popular.