GEELONG chief executive officer Brian Cook has dismissed recent thoughts of stepping down by signing a two-year extension to keep him contracted to the club until the end of 2020.
The news comes after chief commercial officer Justin Reeves left the club to become Hawthorn's new CEO and former football manager Steve Hocking moving to the AFL to take on the football operations manager role.
As recently as September, Cook questioned whether the Cats might need a new boss in 2019.
"It will be my 20th year next year. Twenty years — that's a long time, and 30 years as a CEO (having come from West Coast), it's a long time," Cook told the Geelong Advertiser.
"Maybe it's time? Maybe it's time for other people to have a crack."
By the end of his tenure, Cook – who was West Coast CEO before joining the Cats – will become the first person to serve as CEO/secretary for 30 years in VFL/AFL history, surpassing the 29 years achieved by former Essendon administrators Bill Cookson and Frank Reid.
Since Cook was appointed at Geelong in 1999, the Cats have won three premierships, with the 2007 flag breaking a 44-year drought.
The first two of those flags came with Mark Thompson as coach after he barely survived a review of the football club at the end of 2006.
That review proved to be an inspired move by Cook, leading the club into an immensely successful period. Geelong has missed finals just twice in the past 14 seasons.
"Geelong is a club like no other, and I am proud to continue in this role with the support of the board, management, staff and players," Cook told geelongcats.com.au.
"This is a special club, and everybody is looking ahead to ensure we continue to have success in everything we do. There will be challenges and we will work together to meet these head on."
Geelong president Colin Carter praised Cook's time at the Cats.
"Brian has demonstrated an outstanding leadership approach in his time with the club, and we are excited that he has agreed to continue in his role," Carter said.
"To thrive as a CEO in such a tough and demanding industry for so long is an extraordinary achievement. Brian and his executive have a strong track record in delivering results for our members and supporters, and we still see challenges ahead that Brian will guide us through.
"Brian's track record is second to none and in addition to on and off field success, Brian has implemented strong culture that continues to serve the club well."
