Cheetahs on the hunt for new CEO

NEWS: Cheetahs CEO Ross van Reenen will vacate his office at the end of the month after the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd announced the parties have agreed to part ways amicably.

Van Reenen will conclude his three-year contract on November 30. He was appointed as the Cheetahs’ CEO on December 1, 2021.

While it is stated that the parties will go their separate ways amicably, Van Reenen’s tenure was marked by extreme financial challenges.

It was reported in September that the Cheetahs owes the South African Revenue Service at least ZAR15 million but those in the know hinted that it could be close to double that.

In recent years the Cheetahs have been a melting pot of egotistical ‘head-butting’ between high-profile figures a pitiful and hateful public spat that threatened to boil over into legal action earlier in the year.

In July it was reported that Van Reenen and retired Springbok Naka Drotské – both Currie Cup winners and respected figures in Bloemfontein – were at loggerheads in a controversy that left the Cheetahs looking like a balkanized franchise.

While Drotské took to social media to question the administration and the financial status of the Cheetahs under Van Reenen and claiming they may be “technically insolvent”, Van Reenen threatened legal action against the 53-year-old Drotské.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom during Van Reenen’s time in office. The Cheetahs reached the Currie Cup semifinal twice and claimed victory in the 2023 Currie Cup.

His efforts also brought the Cheetahs back into international competition, securing participation in the EPCR Challenge Cup for four seasons.

During his term, Free State Rugby proudly hosted two sold-out Springbok Test matches, one against Wales in 2022 and another against Portugal in 2024.

According to Ryno Opperman, Chairman of the Board, an acting CEO will be appointed until a suitable replacement for Van Reenen can be found.