Andrew Abdo's shock departure to Tennis Australia has left the rugby league community scratching their heads wondering who will be the next CEO.
With his departure set for July 15, that gives Peter V'landys and the NRL approximately six weeks to find a suitable replacement, which will be an extremely difficult task.
It has been confirmed, though, that V'landys himself will act as the interim CEO if a replacement cannot be found in that time.
"We're going to need Superman and Jesus together," V'landys put it bluntly.
While that may be slightly out of reach, the NRL is going to need a candidate who has extensive knowledge about broadcast deals, club relations and the political intricacies of leading a soon-to-be 19 and most likely 20-club competition.
When considering these conditions, it leaves the following eight candidates who could realistically replace Andrew Abdo.
6. Renae Trimble
One of the most well-respected leaders in Australian sport, Renae Trimble could make history and be the first woman to be CEO of the NRL.
Currently serving as the NRL's Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), the role Andrew Abdo held before he was appointed as CEO.
Trimble spent two years as CEO of Accor after 14 years of working her way up in the company.
Her current role with the NRL has her oversee all aspects of the NRL's commercial operations such as partnerships, performance and revenue strategies.
Trimble not only has previous experience as a CEO, but also has the same experience as Abdo which may ensure an extremely smooth transition, something that would certainly be crucial for the NRL regarding the ongoing broadcast deals and negotiations with the Super League.
Also, similarly to Zelinsky, considering Trimble would be an internal hire, there would be no club affiliation.
