Scottish Golf, the new governing body for the sport in Scotland, has unveiled its new Board of Directors, with the appointment of an exciting new leadership team boasting wide-ranging business and golf experience.
Following the historic decision to amalgamate the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) into a unified governing body on 1 October, a new Board of nine Non-Executive Directors has now been recruited, following a significant response for applications.
The team of Non-Executive directors, four of whom are new to golf administration, will take responsibility for a number of important areas under the leadership of Eleanor Cannon, the recently appointed Chair.
“I’m very excited at the make-up of the new Board and we have a great opportunity to take the sport forward,” said Cannon. “We have a delightful balance with the eight non-executive directors.
“We have individuals with experience and, at the same time, we are bringing in people with a fresh perspective, having not been involved at all in the administration of golf. Collectively, they will offer new ideas and a real hunger to make a difference to ensure we build on the momentum in terms of the work already being achieved with clubs throughout Scotland.”
The full board is as follows:
- Eleanor Cannon, Senior Partner, The Rubicon Partnership (Chair)
- Neil MacDonald, Retired Police Superintendent and Glenbervie GC Chairman (Championships)
- Sandy Anderson, Company Director for Oakhill Finance Ltd (Club Development)
- Roz Cuschieri, Chief Executive Officer of Genius Foods (Commercial)
- Malcolm Robertson, Founding Partner, Charlotte Street Partners (Communications)
- Malcolm Kpedekpo, Founding Partner, Panoramic Growth Equity LLP (Finance)
- Audrey Sturgess, former finance director of SLGA (Integration, with responsibility for Handicapping & Course Rating)
- Stewart Darling, Chief Executive Officer of Vianet Group (Participation)
- Stephen Docherty, Head of Global Equities for Aberdeen Asset Management (Performance)
The new appointments reflect the importance of experience and continuity, combined with a fresh perspective and a desire for a blend of golf and business expertise, with the new Board set a requirement of a minimum of three directors of each gender to ensure appropriate representation within the organisation.
A selection panel, led by Cannon and former chairs Tom Craig (SGU) and Beth Paterson (SLGA), worked alongside a professional, independent HR consultancy to oversee the interviewing and selection of candidates, recruiting people with a genuine passion for golf, combined with the qualifications, skills and determination to drive the game forward.
Rather than three-year terms for all nine members of the Board, Cannon has put in place succession planning to provide continuity and help nurture others into positions.
“Instead of all nine people leaving together at the end of three year-terms, we have created different lengths of terms for each of the directors, namely one, two and three-year terms,” added Cannon. “That has allowed us to introduce real talent into the committee structure with a view to them helping coach and nurture individuals onto the Board in the coming years.
“It’s been a fascinating exercise, wonderful to meet so many people all very hungry, interested and excited about the growth of the game in Scotland. My hope is that, as well as appointing this Board, a large number of people who applied will go on to make a contribution to the sport nationally at various levels.”
The new directors will attend quarterly Board meetings, as well as supporting the work of the new organisation’s committees across its key areas. The director roles are non-executive and not remunerated outside of expenses, with appointments effective from 1 October 2015.
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Scottish Golf www.scottishgolf.org