{{short description|Australian sports administrator}} {{Use South African English|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person| | name = Andrew Abdo | occupation = Outgoing CEO of the National Rugby League Incoming CEO of Tennis Australia | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|43|2021|9|10}} | birth_place = Eastern Cape, South Africa | spouse = Annalisa }}
'''Andrew Abdo''' (born {{birth based on age as of date|43|2021|9|10|noage=y}}) is a South African and Australian sports administrator who is the incoming CEO of Tennis Australia, he will take up this role in August 2026. He is the outgoing CEO of the National Rugby League, a role held from 2019 through to July 2026.
==Early life and education== Abdo was educated at Selborne College in East London, South Africa in the early 1990s. Abdo worked to obtain a business science qualification from the University of Cape Town between 1995 and 1998. Abdo received an Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pretoria in 2006.<ref name="Profile">{{cite news |url=https://sportindustryawards.co.za/south-african-sports-exports-andrew-abdo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260526110445/https://sportindustryawards.co.za/south-african-sports-exports-andrew-abdo/ |url-status=live |archive-date=26 May 2026 |access-date=26 May 2026 |date=10 September 2021 |title=South African Sports Exports – Andrew Abdo |first=Dylan |last=Rogers |publisher=Sport Industry Group}}</ref>
==Career== Abdo worked as a financial accountant with Deloitte from 1993 until 2003 while he was in South Africa and Bermuda. In Johannesburg, Abdo worked in business development and project management for Learninglab from 2004 to 2005. Abdo worked as the director at professional development company Atcor from 2005 to 2011. From 2005 to 2011, Abdo was simultaneously working as a non-executive director at the South African Forestry Company where he led the finance committee. In 2012, Abdo moved to Sydney and worked for Deloitte Australia, he worked at Deloitte Australia until 2013. While working at Deloitte, Abdo served as director in the private growth advisory practice.<ref name="Profile"/><ref name="Career"/><ref name="Appointment"/>
Abdo was chief commercial officer for the National Rugby League (NRL) from 2013 until his appointment as CEO in September 2020, succeeding Todd Greenberg.<ref name="Appointment">{{cite news |access-date=26 May 2026 |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/andrew-abdo-officially-appointed-nrl-ceo/news-story/c38b3e3d0e0d15f41dbf0454f722e2c6 |publisher=news.com.au |title=Andrew Abdo officially appointed NRL CEO |work=NCA NewsWire |first=Matt |last=Logue |date=3 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=ESPN |access-date=26 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428201726/https://africa.espn.com/nrl/story/_/id/29069776/abdo-early-leader-replace-greenberg |url=https://africa.espn.com/nrl/story/_/id/29069776/abdo-early-leader-replace-greenberg |title=Abdo the early leader to replace Greenberg |first=Scott |last=Bailey |date=20 April 2020}}</ref>
Abdo resigned from his role as CEO of the NRL in May 2026. Upon announcing his resignation from the NRL, Abdo stated that he would join Tennis Australia as CEO in August, he also indicated that he would continue to remain involved with the NRL via broadcast negotiations. Abdo will move to Melbourne upon taking up his position as CEO of Tennis Australia.<ref name="Career">{{cite news |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 May 2026 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/andrew-abdo-resigns-as-nrl-chief-executive-20260525-p6009y.html |date=25 May 2026 |first1=Chris |last1=Barrett |last2=Walsh |first2=Dan |first3=Billie |last3=Eder |name-list-style=and |title='The perfect role for him': V'landys backed for all-powerful new job after Abdo exit}}</ref> Abdo will leave the NRL on 15 July.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/andrew-abdo-makes-shock-call-on-top-nrl-job-234094/ |access-date=26 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20260526114916/https://www.zerotackle.com/andrew-abdo-makes-shock-call-on-top-nrl-job-234094/ |archive-date=26 May 2026 |title=Andrew Abdo makes shock call on top NRL job |publisher=Zero Tackle |date=25 May 2026 |first=Magdalena |last=Murdoch}}</ref>
==Personal life== Abdo is married to Annalisa,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/sport/2020-09-21-old-selbornian-nets-top-aussie-rugby-league-job/ |access-date=26 May 2026 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20260526120336/https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/sport/2020-09-21-old-selbornian-nets-top-aussie-rugby-league-job/ |archive-date=26 May 2026 |url-status=live |date=21 September 2020 |work=Daily Dispatch |title=Old Selbornian nets top Aussie rugby league job}}</ref> Annalisa is the sister of South African golfer Ulrich van den Berg, his family has one daughter and one son. Abdo is a supporter of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251123040039/https://championsofchangecoalition.org/champions/andrew-abdo/ |url=https://championsofchangecoalition.org/champions/andrew-abdo/ |access-date=26 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 November 2025 |title=Andrew Abdo |publisher=Champions of Change Coalition}}</ref> Abdo is interested in sports such as running, cycling, surfing and golf, he was also part of a social cricket team at Selborne College.<ref name="Profile"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite news |publisher=Ministry of Sport |url=https://ministryofsport.com/andrew-abdo-quits-nrl-in-shock-mid-season-move-to-head-tennis-australia/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260526123042/https://ministryofsport.com/andrew-abdo-quits-nrl-in-shock-mid-season-move-to-head-tennis-australia/ |archive-date=26 May 2026 |access-date=26 May 2026 |url-status=live |date=25 May 2026 |title=Andrew Abdo Quits NRL in Shock Mid-Season Move to Head Tennis Australia}}
{{S-start}} {{Succession box | title=National Rugby League CEO | before=Todd Greenberg | after=Andrew Abdo | years=2019–2026 }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdo, Andrew}} Category:Living people Category:1970s births Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:South African emigrants to Australia Category:South African accountants Category:University of Cape Town alumni Category:Tennis in Australia Category:Rugby league in Australia Category:People from the Eastern Cape Category:National Rugby League chief executives Category:Australian rugby league administrators Category:Australian Rugby League commissioners