Wealthcreator, February 2008, Page 30

Australian rugby union icon John Eales has become a successful entrepreneur and corporate advisor since his retirement from the game. He spoke to Joanne McCulloch about the key ingredients of elite relationship.

AFTER speaking to rugby legend John Eales about his business success, I'll admit to feeling a little bit let down. Eales was modest about his achievements as an entrepreneur that it was only after a little bit of digging that I discovered the extent to which he had excelled. After just three yeas, his consulting company Mettle was turning over $8m a year and worth $3.35m. The business, which he set up with his long-time friend and recruitment executive Ian Basser in 2004, had in that time opened offices in Sydney, Melbourne and London, and named high-profile figures such as Grant Hackett and Matthew Hayden as clients. The firm's consulting division has now been snapped by listed recruitment group Chandler Macleod, doubling the size of its global recruitment offering and providing the stepping stone to further expansion.

Eales' other business, JohnEales5, has merged with International Quarterback to create one of the country's leading sports marketing and events companies. Its clients include surfing champion Layne Beachley and swimmer Giaane Rooney, as well as model Lara Bingle and singer Candice Alley. But if Eales - a double rugby world cup winner and one of the sport's best ever players - was patting himself on the back for a job well done, he certainly wasn't showing it when we spoke.

“I'm still very much a novice in business,” he says. “But I'm learning, and one of the very important things from my point of view has been having experienced business people around me.” He adds that the highlight of his business career has been to see Mettle grow successfully without people actually realising he started the company himself: “About a year ago I was in a general meeting and someone said to me, 'when did Mettle get you involved?' That was a huge highlight for me. It was recognition that we have achieved to a large degree what we set out to achieve: a business that isn't reliant on any individual, and particularly on my name in sport.”...