The Committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is pleased to announce the election of current Vice-President Michael Happell as the 28th President of the MCC.
Michael will succeed Steven Smith when his four-year term as President expires later this month.
Michael has served on the Committee since 2011 firstly as Treasurer and then as Vice-President for the past two years. He is also Chairman of the National Sports Museum, which is housed inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Michael is the former Chair of PwC Australia and was a member of the firm’s Global Board.
A decorated sportsman, Michael has won numerous Australian and international Real Tennis titles, captained the Australian Real Tennis team over a 20-year period and is the current World Champion in the over 55 age category.
He also played at 1st XI level for Melbourne University in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition and is a keen golfer.
Michael is married to Tatty, is a father of three daughters and has been an MCC member for almost four decades.
"I am honoured to be chosen as the next President of the MCC and look forward to serving the members of our Club and the many passionate patrons of the Melbourne Cricket Ground,” Michael said.
“I pay particular tribute to Steven Smith who has served the Club with distinction for the duration of his presidency and for the two decades he served as a Committee member before that.”
Steven Smith will officially hand over the presidency to Michael Happell at the Club’s March Committee meeting.
The succession process was supported by current members of the Executive Committee Michael Andrew and Karen Wood, neither of whom offered themselves for election to the position of President.
Steven has congratulated Michael on being chosen as his replacement.
“Michael has made an outstanding contribution since joining the Committee eight years ago,” he said.
“He has been an integral part of the MCC Foundation and served as Chairman of the Ground Sub-committee.
“In his role as Chairman of the National Sports Museum, Michael has been at the forefront of the Club’s $17 million plans to refurbish the home of Australian sport, with the support of the State Government.
“I congratulate Michael on his appointment.”
In other changes, Committee member Sally Macindoe – former Chair of Norton Rose Fullbright Australia and the great-great-granddaughter of former MCC President Frank Grey Smith - will be elevated to a Vice-President role joining current Vice-Presidents Karen Wood and Fred Oldfield.
The Club would also like to pay tribute to Committee member Charles Sitch, who is stepping down after serving on the Committee since 2011.
Charles has played a significant role in the areas of innovation, technology and marketing and was also a passionate advocate for our CARE customer service program.
Annabel Brebner and Geoff Roberts have been appointed onto the Committee to fill the casual vacancies created by the retirements of Steven and Charles.
Annabel is currently a director at ACIL Allen Consulting and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Annabel is Chair of the MCC Football Club and a Committee member of the Women of the MCC. She has been an MCC Member since 2004.
Geoff has been Group Chief Financial Officer with SEEK Ltd since 2015. Prior to that he was Managing Partner (Victoria) at Deloitte Australia. He has been an MCC member since 1985.
He’s also a member of the boards of Deloitte, AMP Ltd, Vision Australia and The Reach Foundation, of which he was previously Chair.
“We are delighted that Annabel and Geoff have agreed to join the Committee. They bring a range of skills to the Committee table that complements our existing skill sets and I am looking forward to the significant contributions I expect both will make to our Club”, Steven said.