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AFL 2021: Collingwood president Mark Korda announces intention to step down

Jasper BruceNCA NewsWire
McRae previously served as Collingwood’s head of development for five years.
Camera IconMcRae previously served as Collingwood’s head of development for five years. Credit: Supplied

Collingwood president Mark Korda will see out the remainder of his elected term and step down at the end of the 2022 season.

Korda, who took the reins from Eddie McGuire in February, announced his decision in a letter to the club’s members on Thursday evening.

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Korda’s announcement comes just one day after the Magpies officially appointed Craig McRae as their senior coach for 2021.

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McRae previously served as Collingwood’s head of development for five years.
Camera IconMcRae previously served as Collingwood’s head of development for five years. Credit: Supplied

“By declaring my intention now, our talented and passionate board will have time to develop a succession plan and work to ensure Collingwood remains stable, respected, financially sound and focused on our members, our staff and our teams across men’s and women’s football, netball, and wheelchair football,” Korda said.

“By the end of next season the energy of a diverse and progressive board will be ready to take further a transformation that is already underway.”

In the first year of his tenure, Korda helped chart the course out of the Nathan Buckley era and also worked to minimise the Covid-19 pandemic’s financial impact on the club.

Korda also helped to implement the club’s Do Better Report, which he said remains “a key focus” in the aftermath of the 2021 season.

Korda said Collingwood was committed to reforming its conditions of board tenure in consultation with club members.

Among other amendments to its constitution, Korda said the club plans to limit the maximum tenure for directors to nine years and for club presidents to six years.

Four current board members will be up for election at the club’s annual general meeting on December 16: Peter Murphy, Dr. Bridie O’Donnell, Neil Wilson and Christine Holgate.

“This is to ensure that as we enter season 2022 all of the current board of seven will have been elected by members,” Korda explained.

“This validation is important. Directors are accountable to the members and their mandate comes from being elected by them.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: Collingwood president Mark Korda announces intention to step down

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