Nine’s former CEO, Hugh Marks, is back with a new gig as a consultant for the NRL. Nice landing!
Nine’s The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Marks will be a consultant that will be in charge of the code’s collective bargaining agreement negotiations with players.
The 55-year-old Marks, with his new partner Alexi Baker, are also expecting their first child together in July. Baker also works for the NRL as its chief customer and digital officer. A year earlier, Marks split from his former wife of more than two decades with whom he has four adult children.
In his new role, Marks will work with Andrew Adbo and Clint Newtown, two men he previously negotiated fairly toughly with during his tenure at Nine.
Mark’s famously said, “It’s not a given that NRL has to be part of our future. It has to just pay its way like all of our content does, and if it doesn’t, well … again, we are less reliant on that as a revenue source.”
Mark’s was the man that got the NRL to agree to an eyewatering discount of 70 million in broadcast fees between 2020 and 2022. So, clearly, Adbo and Newtown might be relieved his now on their side!
Of course, Marks is no stranger to a consultancy role, he previously served as a consultant for Tennis Australia to help broker internal broadcast deals for The Australian Open.
And if that wasn’t keeping him busy enough he also has a production company with former Endemol Shine boss Carl Fennessy. Read B&T’s reporting of that HERE.
