Doyle's NRL exit down to family reasons

Jim Doyle says his resignation as chief operating officer of the NRL to return to New Zealand is entirely down to family reasons.

NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle

The NRL's chief operating officer Jim Doyle will leave his post to take up the role of Warriors CEO. (AAP)

Jim Doyle has denied his decision to quit his position as chief operating officer has anything to do with the recent mass exodus of staff at the NRL.

Doyle will become the latest employee to walk out of Rugby League Central's fast-spinning revolving door at the end of this year to take up the chief executive role at the Warriors.

The Scottish-born former electrician, who became a multi-millionaire in 2008 when he sold the Navman GPS company, before becoming CEO of the New Zealand Rugby League in 2009, was NRL chief Dave Smith's first major recruit along with head of football Todd Greenberg last year.

He was given responsibility for setting up the NRL integrity unit following the announcement of the ASADA investigation and also the revamping of the salary cap.

Doyle will be the fifth major departure from the NRL since the turn of the year with vastly experienced head of communications John Brady and long-standing media managers David Taylor and Tracie Edmondson.

Former head of strategy Shane Mattiske, who occupied the interim CEO position after David Gallop's shock exit in June 2012 and oversaw the billion-dollar TV deal, also resigned two months ago following long-time salary cap auditor Ian Schubert out the door.

However, the highly respected Doyle is the first member of Smith's inner sanctum to walk away, but he denies any problems with Smith's regime and insists his decision to leave is entirely down to family reasons.

"This is a great place to work; it's been very enjoyable," Doyle said.

"Dave Smith is making a massive difference to the game and taking it in the right direction.

"But I knew when I came, it would be a short-term thing ... two or three years.

"My daughters are still in New Zealand and, although I don't have a strong Kiwi accent, New Zealand is home for me.

"Dave is the smartest guy I have worked with. To be part of where he is taking the game, along with the rest of the executive team, has been a great experience."

Doyle will replace Wayne Scurrah at the Warriors next season and said it was an offer he couldn't refuse.

"I want to stay in the game and, when the Warriors approached me, it was an opportunity for that to happen," he said.

"I can assure you if I had come here from Scotland, I wouldn't be going back."


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Source: AAP


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