Andrew Demetriou (born 14 April 1961) is the chief executive officer of the Australian Football League and a former Australian rules footballer. He is the youngest son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants who made his fortune in the dental import business (an older brother, Jim, played senior football for Essendon in the mid 1970's).[1]
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Recruited from Pascoe Vale, Demetriou played for the North Melbourne Football Club as a winger, playing 103 games and kicking 47 goals between 1981 and 1987.
He had a brief move to Hawthorn playing for the club in 1988, playing just 3 games and kicking 1 goal.
Demetriou was reported for striking David Rhys-Jones in 1984 and suspended for two matches.[2]
Between 1998 and 2000, Demetriou was CEO of the AFL Players Association.
Demetriou is best known for his position as CEO of the Australian Football League. He was elected at the end of the 2003 season, taking over from the outgoing CEO Wayne Jackson. In 2005 he was instrumental in securing a record breaking $AUD 780 million TV rights deal. In the same season, the league posted record breaking TV ratings and attendances.
On 2 October 2007 it was reported in The Bulletin that Demetriou was initiating plans to resign in order to spend more time with his family, and in particular to visit his holiday home at Lake Como, Italy.[3] Demetriou issued a statement denying these claims - the statement was acknowledged at the online The Bulletin, but the magazine stood by its initial report.
In 2009, Demetriou earned $1.8 million for his role at the AFL.[4]
Demetriou has been highly influential in the Commission's desire for a team to be based on the Gold Coast. North Melbourne Football Club had played 3 home games there in 2007, and at the conclusion of that season Demetriou offered the club $100 million to relocate there permanently. North Melbourne rejected that offer; and in January 2008 AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick announced that Gold Coast FC would enter the AFL in 2011. (See article Proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club )
In 2005 Demetriou criticized the Sydney Swans and their coach Paul Roos, labelling the teams play as "unattractive" and "ugly". He also claimed that the Swans would not win a premiership the way they were playing, and then a heavy loss to St Kilda in Round 10 of that season sent the Swans into deep crisis. The Saints themselves found themselves in this position after round 13 of the same season. The Saints loss was the turning point in their season, with the Swans losing only two more home-and-away games for the season and eventually winning the 2005 Premiership.[5]
Andrew Demetriou embroiled himself in controversy in December 2009 in regards to statements he made about the Australian 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bid. [6]
Mr Demetriou has factories in Brazil and India which manufacture dental products and exports them to 70 markets, including Australia. [1]
Demetriou is a qualified teacher, having taught business, law and politics at both Trinity Grammar School and RMIT University.[3]
As of 2008, Demetriou earns an annual salary of $1.4 million, making him the highest paid administrator or player currently employed by the AFL. [7]
Demetriou is married to Symone and they have three daughters; twins Francesca and Alexandra (born 2003) and Mattea (born 2006). They were expecting their fourth child in November 2009.
In 2007, Andrew purchased a mansion in the exclusive suburb of Toorak for A$7 million. [2] The stamp duty alone was A$385,000.
| Preceded by Wayne Jackson |
Australian Football League CEO 2003- |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
   | The Bulletin: Demetriou ready to quit top job - The Bulletin publishes for the last time |
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