Headline: St Helens CEO Abi Ekoku Resigns for Family Reasons, Joe Nicholl Named New COO
St Helens chief executive Abi Ekoku will resign from his role with the Super League club due to family commitments. Ekoku, who previously served as interim CEO of the Rugby Football League (RFL), took on the position in April after the departure of Mike Rush.
In a statement, the club announced that Ekoku would be returning to London and acknowledged his “commitment and contribution” during his tenure with the Saints.
In light of Ekoku’s exit, Joe Nicholl, a director at the club, has been appointed as the new chief operating officer.
“We sincerely thank Abi for his contributions to the club during what has been a very challenging year,” said chairman Eamonn McManus. “In particular, we appreciate the personal sacrifices made by him due to his family residing in London. We wish him every success for the future, and he remains very much a friend of the club.”
Ekoku, a former winger for London Broncos, Halifax, and Bradford, stepped in as interim CEO at the RFL last October. He joined St Helens as they began the 2026 season, which saw them miss the Super League play-offs for the first time.
“We have great confidence in Joe successfully taking over the reins as COO of the club, given his 20 years to date on our board of directors, along with his deep experience in owning and running his own businesses,” McManus commented.
The management changes also indicate a reorganization separating the rugby and commercial sides of the operation, which the club has implemented to address the growing complexities and demands of the sport. “The club remains determined to improve performances at every level, both on and off the pitch in an increasingly demanding and competitive sporting landscape,” he added.
