Businessman Bill Pulver has been appointed CEO for the ARU © Getty Images

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The Australian Rugby Union has announced Bill Pulver will become its new chief executive officer, succeeding John O'Neill who resigned from the role last October.

ARU chairman Michael Hawker said Pulver, 53, would start his tenure as CEO on February 1. "The ARU Board was looking for a specific skill set and, benchmarking against those criteria, we have found the right man for the job. We wanted someone with proven commercial success at CEO level, with international business experience and a love of rugby.

"The board also set priorities around good communication skills and an understanding of the world of sports marketing and media. Bill has all those attributes. He has enjoyed success in large and small businesses, through growth cycles and tough times. He has worked in Japan, the UK, the USA and Australia. His love of rugby dates back to his school days and he has coached at the junior levels."

With the British & Irish Lions touring Australia this summer and a full international calendar, Pulver said he was looking forward to the challenge of driving Australian rugby forward.

"For 20 years I have been a chief executive in a diverse range of industries and now I have the opportunity to focus my efforts on this great game, the game I love. Today there are many exciting investment opportunities that are capable of igniting growth in our game.

"However, the success of our financial model relies on a passionate and participative supporter base. In the short term the challenge for our team in the ARU headquarters is to work with all the game's stakeholders to ensure rugby in Australia powers forward as a unified and energised force. I would like to see the ARU as an innovative and profitable leader in a prosperous global rugby community."