Perth Bears inaugural chief executive Anthony De Ceglie has stepped down, the club confirmed on Friday night, with football general manager Gareth Holmes taking over as interim CEO ahead of the expansion side’s NRL entry in 2027.
In an official club statement, the Perth Bears said De Ceglie had “today decided to step down from his role”. ABC News reported the announcement late Friday and said the club had not given a reason for the departure.
What the club said
De Ceglie, appointed in May 2025 after senior Seven West Media roles including director of news and current affairs, said he was “extremely proud of what the hard-working Perth Bears team has achieved in the past year”.
“I have no doubt that the Perth Bears will continue to grow and grow, and become a behemoth of the national sporting stage,” he said. He praised head coach Mal Meninga and assistant Ben Gardiner, thanked ARLC executive chairman Peter V’landys, partners and the board, and closed by thanking fans in Western Australia and North Sydney: “They are – and will always be – what matters most. Go Bears!”
Chair Ben Morton thanked De Ceglie for the start-up phase. “We will now turn our attention to the leadership of our organisation as we enter the next phase of our story,” Morton said, citing commercial partnerships, merchandise, more than 20,000 Foundation Members, infrastructure progress and on-field recruiting under De Ceglie’s watch.
Holmes interim; earlier board reports
Holmes will act as CEO on an interim basis, with the club saying further statements on permanent arrangements would follow in coming days. ABC noted prior reports that the board had been seeking to replace De Ceglie. Fox League (~10:28pm AEDT Friday), citing earlier Code Sports reporting, said he had been near dismissal before a short-lived reprieve linked to V’landys. Those claims remain attributed; the club framed Friday’s exit as De Ceglie’s decision to step down.
Former head of football David Sharpe left in April. The Bears are building toward 2027 as the NRL’s 18th club and Western Australia’s first since 1997.
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