KARL BUDGE APPOINTED NEW BLUES CEO
The Blues Board have confirmed the appointment of Karl Budge as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Budge brings over two decades of international sports leadership experience, marked by significant commercial innovation across global sporting codes.
His history includes leadership roles both domestically and abroad, demonstrating an ability to deliver sustainable growth in high-performance environments.
Budge is best known for his transformative tenure as CEO of the ASB Classic, where he successfully repositioned the tournament as New Zealand’s premier summer event.
More recently, Budge co-founded and operated Octosport Partners where he played a critical role in driving commercial growth, fan engagement and long-term strategy for sports organisations such as the New Zealand Olympic Committee and SailGP throughout the APAC region.
Budge has also contributed to the wider rugby landscape, having served as a commercial sub-committee board member and secondee to the New Zealand Rugby Board.
On accepting the role, Budge acknowledged the opportunity to lead the club through its next phase.
“The opportunity to lead the Blues is a tremendous privilege. This club is built on a rich history and has a deep connection to its community across Auckland, North Harbour, and Northland,” Budge said.
“My focus will be on ensuring we continue to grow and support a world-class high performance environment, connecting deeply with our fans, and ultimately delivering the success they deserve.”
Blues Chair Don Mackinnon said Budge’s proven balance of commercial innovation and leadership credibility was key to the appointment.
“Karl brings a proven track record of driving significant, sustainable commercial growth in competitive global environments,” Mackinnon commented.
“His experience in understanding fans and delivering great events, coupled with his international perspective on high performance, gives us confidence that he is the right leader to guide the Blues into a new era, balancing financial strength with high performance outcomes on the field.
“We are focused on future-proofing this club, and Karl has the operational expertise and leadership nous to achieve that.”
Budge will begin in his new role with the Blues in the New Year, with Blues director Andy Roberts continuing as interim CEO in the meantime.