CEO - Shane Richardson

[Tom Shines]

So I assume the possible appointment of an administrator never really went anywhere ?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Shane Richardson to walk away as Wests Tigers chief executive
Dan Walsh, Michael Chammas
•
Dec 8, 2025

Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has informed staff that he will walk away from the joint-venture as the club’s front-office turmoil claims another high-profile scalp.

Richardson is poised to quit his role less than 18 months into a four-year deal that began last July, in response to the removal of four independent directors from the Tigers board last week.

Richardson called a meeting on Monday to tell staff of his decision. It is unclear at this stage when Richardson will end his tenure but his decision will leave the club without a chairman or CEO, given he follows former NSW premier and administrative ally Barry O’Farrell out the door.

Outgoing Manly boss Tony Mestrov – whose tenure at the Sea Eagles is due to finish on December 19 – has been approached as a replacement but is yet to confirm his next move. Mestrov declined to comment on Monday.

Richardson’s move comes as the NRL determines whether there are grounds to investigate the veteran administrator’s conduct and a potential conflict of interest regarding the use of the Enrichd Group – a company Richardson part owns with his son, Brent – for marketing, branding and digital consultancy services.

Richardson has declared the potential conflict of interest previously and is privately adamant the whistleblower tip-off to the NRL will amount to nothing.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity have indicated Richardson’s contract contains termination clauses that protect a lucrative payout.

Despite a seemingly positive season on the field which saw the Tigers progress under coach Benji Marshall, with recruits Jarome Luai, Terrell May and Sunia Turuva lifting the club from the bottom of the ladder, majority owners the Holman Barnes Group dismissed the board’s independent directors in the club’s latest off-field drama.

HBG directors have grown frustrated with the approach of Richardson and the Tigers board.

 

[DrewPeacock]

Shane Richardson to walk away as Wests Tigers chief executive

Richardson called a meeting on Monday to inform staff he intended to leave the joint venture, following the removal of four independent directors last week.

www.smh.com.au

This is extremely bad for the club. For years the Tigers needed someone like him.
I think I'm done with this joint. For years and years I've put up with crap and only when there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel HBG stuff it up.

 

[Suzie-Q]

This is extremely bad for the club. For years the Tigers needed someone like him.
I think I'm done with this joint. For years and years I've put up with crap and only when there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel HBG stuff it up.

Yep. Terrible.

 

[Nathser]

If you had of told me 8 days ago Richo would be gone I wouldn't of believed you - then again, it's the wests tigers we're talking about...unbelievable.

 

[Odessa]

This is extremely bad for the club. For years the Tigers needed someone like him.
I think I'm done with this joint. For years and years I've put up with crap and only when there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel HBG stuff it up.

He is exactly what the club needed I think it mite be time for me as well not to care as much it's hard to keep watching the same car crash every year


I think I will show an interest in the Bear's and rugby league in general

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

- AAP has learned the Tigers' recently promoted general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp could also be an option to take on the role on an interim or full-time basis.

- The Tigers' board is set to meet next Monday for the first time since the removal of the independent chairs, where it is expected the new board structure will be discussed.

aapnews.aap.com.au

Richardson tells Tigers staff he's finished as CEO​

4 min read
Dec 8, 2025

Shane Richardson is understood to have told Wests Tigers he is stepping down as chief executive. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

Shane Richardson has resigned as Wests Tigers CEO one week after the embattled club's owners dismissed all four independents from their board.

AAP understands Richardson informed Tigers staff of his decision to walk away from the role on Monday, leaving the club without a CEO or chairman.

Richardson had spent the past seven days mulling over his future in the role, after the club's majority owners the Holman Barnes Group sparked chaos last Monday.

The decision to remove directors, including chairman Barry O'Farrell, caused a public uproar. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)
Richardson had arrived at the Tigers in late 2023 as the club's potential white knight, after more than a decade of on-field failure and off-field dramas.

The club had appeared to turn a corner in the past year, climbing off the bottom of the ladder while also turning a profit off the field.

But the veteran administrator had been vocal in his desire for an independent board, while having also worked closely with ousted chairman Barry O'Farrell.

Richardson's exit will leave questions over the future of both Jarome Luai and Jahream Bula, who have options to leave the club at the end of 2026.

Just a fortnight ago Richardson had told AAP he expected the duo to stay, with Bula tipped to sign a new long-term deal with the club.

Former Manly boss Tony Mestrov has been linked to the role of CEO, but there are questions over whether he will end up in the job.

AAP has learned the Tigers' recently promoted general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp could also be an option to take on the role on an interim or full-time basis.

Mielekamp was CEO of Central Coast Mariners between 2015 and 2024, lifting them from the bottom of the ladder and financial difficulties to back-to-back champions.

He had previously spent time as merchandise and marketing manager at Penrith and South Sydney, and arrived at the Tigers at the start of last year as head of community.

Shaun Mielekamp could be considered for the CEO role at Wests Tigers. (Jeremy Ng/AAP PHOTOS)
The most recent drama comes after the Holman Barnes Group in January appointed four independent directors to the seven-person board, on the advice on an external report.

But those four directors were dismissed last week, claiming as owners they had been kept in the dark on key commercial decisions.

That move prompted resounding public opposition, and calls for the NRL to intervene.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys has vowed to look into the matter, but it remains unclear if they will be in a position to intervene.

At the same time, it has emerged that a complaint has been made to the NRL about Richardson and financial dealings while at the Tigers.

The alleged issue relates to the use of a digital marketing company Richardson has a part ownership in with his son.

Sources close to Richardson maintain that the veteran administrator had been transparent in all dealings, and appointments for work had been approved by the club's board after a tender process.

The Tigers' board is set to meet next Monday for the first time since the removal of the independent chairs, where it is expected the new board structure will be discussed.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

This is extremely bad for the club. For years the Tigers needed someone like him.
I think I'm done with this joint. For years and years I've put up with crap and only when there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel HBG stuff it up.

Man y of us share this view...Oh how I wish to NRL would take control and strip the HBG of the WT license due to negligence and bringing the WT club into disrepute

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

- AAP has learned the Tigers' recently promoted general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp could also be an option to take on the role on an interim or full-time basis.

- The Tigers' board is set to meet next Monday for the first time since the removal of the independent chairs, where it is expected the new board structure will be discussed.

aapnews.aap.com.au

Richardson tells Tigers staff he's finished as CEO​

4 min read
Dec 8, 2025

Shane Richardson is understood to have told Wests Tigers he is stepping down as chief executive. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

Shane Richardson has resigned as Wests Tigers CEO one week after the embattled club's owners dismissed all four independents from their board.

AAP understands Richardson informed Tigers staff of his decision to walk away from the role on Monday, leaving the club without a CEO or chairman.

Richardson had spent the past seven days mulling over his future in the role, after the club's majority owners the Holman Barnes Group sparked chaos last Monday.

The decision to remove directors, including chairman Barry O'Farrell, caused a public uproar. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)
Richardson had arrived at the Tigers in late 2023 as the club's potential white knight, after more than a decade of on-field failure and off-field dramas.

The club had appeared to turn a corner in the past year, climbing off the bottom of the ladder while also turning a profit off the field.

But the veteran administrator had been vocal in his desire for an independent board, while having also worked closely with ousted chairman Barry O'Farrell.

Richardson's exit will leave questions over the future of both Jarome Luai and Jahream Bula, who have options to leave the club at the end of 2026.

Just a fortnight ago Richardson had told AAP he expected the duo to stay, with Bula tipped to sign a new long-term deal with the club.

Former Manly boss Tony Mestrov has been linked to the role of CEO, but there are questions over whether he will end up in the job.

AAP has learned the Tigers' recently promoted general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp could also be an option to take on the role on an interim or full-time basis.

Mielekamp was CEO of Central Coast Mariners between 2015 and 2024, lifting them from the bottom of the ladder and financial difficulties to back-to-back champions.

He had previously spent time as merchandise and marketing manager at Penrith and South Sydney, and arrived at the Tigers at the start of last year as head of community.

Shaun Mielekamp could be considered for the CEO role at Wests Tigers. (Jeremy Ng/AAP PHOTOS)
The most recent drama comes after the Holman Barnes Group in January appointed four independent directors to the seven-person board, on the advice on an external report.

But those four directors were dismissed last week, claiming as owners they had been kept in the dark on key commercial decisions.

That move prompted resounding public opposition, and calls for the NRL to intervene.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys has vowed to look into the matter, but it remains unclear if they will be in a position to intervene.

At the same time, it has emerged that a complaint has been made to the NRL about Richardson and financial dealings while at the Tigers.

The alleged issue relates to the use of a digital marketing company Richardson has a part ownership in with his son.

Sources close to Richardson maintain that the veteran administrator had been transparent in all dealings, and appointments for work had been approved by the club's board after a tender process.

The Tigers' board is set to meet next Monday for the first time since the removal of the independent chairs, where it is expected the new board structure will be discussed.

Goodbye season 2026...goodbye Bula, goodbye Luai!

 

[Demps]

Mielekamp > Mestrov

Devastating news nonetheless

Sorry Richo, you deserve better.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

If you had of told me 8 days ago Richo would be gone I wouldn't of believed you - then again, it's the wests tigers we're talking about...unbelievable.

He may not be gone completely just yet this could be a strategy to get the NRL to act by bringing in an administrator, this is a goal he's been trying to achieve.

 

[Shubert]

No words. Devastated.

 

[Canberratiger]

This is absolutely disgusting. I cannot believe it has come to this.

 

[jadtiger]

Gutted,f you HBG you useless prix

 

[user118245]

One last year supporting the club for me unless Luai or Bula walk instantly

 

[balmain boy]

So I assume the possible appointment of an administrator never really went anywhere ?

That process has barely started. It takes time.
Hopefully Richo is the administrator brought in to the club

 

[Tom Shines]

One last year supporting the club for me unless Luai or Bula walk instantly

I’ve said I’ll see how things play out in 2026 … not going to rush into anything as it’s not something I take likely …. I’m not feeling particularly optimistic though

 

[Merlot]

As long as the WestsTigers are in the comp ,think i will keep supporting / cheering on the players.
Part of my heart is dead though

 

[Surfers Paradise WT Fan]

Its a DARK day gang with some DARK times coming up.

Get ready to bunker down.

The last 10 years was practice for whats really about to come

 

[rihannafan1]

Unbelievable that some cretins keep raising the Richo conflict of interest nonsense. The timing is no coincidence. Trying to affect a pay out, no doubt.

Meanwhile it took a wooden spoon and independent review for Pascoe to be sacked despite him lying about membership numbers to all stakeholders and lying to the NRL about the terms of Farah's contract.