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he Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have announced Aaron Warburton as the NRL club’s new CEO ahead of the 2021 season.

Warburton previously held the role as the Bulldogs’ head of commercial partnerships from 2010-2017, before founding his own sports sponsorship company and fan engagement start-up.

Speaking about the appointment of Warburton, Bulldogs chairman, John Khoury, said during his time at the Bulldogs, Warburton was the driving force behind the club’s highest revenue growth in its history.

“Aaron’s astute commercial acumen, his knowledge of membership and fan engagement, his understanding of high performance and the value he places on strong community connections made him a standout for the role,” Khoury said.

“He understands the fabric of the Bulldogs and he’s highly motivated to create an environment where players, staff, sponsors, members and fans can all thrive.

“Aaron’s leadership, combined with (Bulldogs head coach) Trent Barrett’s determination to succeed, means the Bulldogs have a bright future ahead,” he said.

Warburton, who is set to begin work with the Bulldogs in the coming weeks, said: “This is such an exciting period for the Bulldogs, and I’m honoured to be part of it.”

“A new coach and new recruits will bring exciting opportunities for this great club and it’s a privilege to be part of this evolution.

“With the season just around the corner I can’t wait to start.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure success for the Bulldogs in 2021 and beyond,” Warburton said.

Bulldogs major sponsor, Arthur Laundy, said he was pleased the club conducted a thorough search for their new CEO.

“I have been impressed with the way that the board has conducted their search for the new chief executive of the football club and am confident that they have found the best person for the job,” Laundy said.

“Aaron will be in a great position to continue to build on the momentum that Trent and his squad have created in the off-season and I am excited about what lies ahead for this great club,” he said.