Jamie Jones-Buchanan was a successful leader on the pitch for Leeds Rhinos, and now he’ll be aiming to transfer those skills off it after being named as the Betfred Super League club’s next chief executive.
The seven-time Super League Grand Final winner will succeed the long-serving Gary Hetherington in the role after it was announced on Thursday the 70-year-old will be stepping down at the end of the 2025 season.
Rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads exclusively revealed earlier in the day that Hetherington is set to move to London Broncos as part of an NRL takeover aiming to revive the ailing capital club.
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Jones-Buchanan has been serving as the club’s director of culture, diversity and inclusion since May 2023, and will take his position on a new-look board which sees Rob Oates becoming managing director and Sue Ward become chief operating officer too.
“With a strong board of directors and a talented management team in place, we are confident of moving forward to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead,” Leeds chairman Paul Caddick said.
“Gary and I have always understood that we are the custodians of a rich history and heritage here at AMT Headingley and Leeds Rhinos.
“The greatest test for any leader is always whether they leave an organisation in a better place when they leave than when they arrived, and Gary has certainly achieved that by a considerable margin.”
Jones-Buchanan initially moved into coaching at Leeds following his retirement from a 20-year playing career with his hometown club, but has since transitioned into the administrative side.
He faces a tough act to follow in Hetherington, who also went from player to administrator and helped revive Leeds’ fortunes after leaving Sheffield Eagles as part of Caddick’s takeover at Headingley in December 1996.
Hetherington’s time with the Rhinos saw the rise of the club’s golden generation, which Jones-Buchanan was a part of, and the development of their home ground into a modern rugby league facility.
On-field success has proven much more elusive for Leeds since their last Grand Final triumph in 2017, but Hetherington, who will help with Jones-Buchanan’s move into the role before departing, believes there is still much to be positive about.
“At the outset, we had four key objectives: To give the city a team to be proud of, to convert the loss-making business into a sustainable one, to re-develop the stadium facilities and to connect with our community and make a positive difference,” Hetherington said.
“Leeds RL and Headingley presented a big challenge in 1996 and a very different one to what I took on with the creation of Sheffield Eagles in 1984 – and I will leave knowing both the Rhinos and our foundation are in good shape.
“I’m confident this season will be a successful one for all our fans and sponsors and I’ll do all I can to ensure a smooth handover between now and the end of the season.”
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