Phil Anderton has been appointed Chief Executive of the Scottish Rugby Union with immediate effect.
His promotion from his current position as Commercial and Marketing Director has the unanimous support of the Board and follows an international search that produced a short list of five candidates.
David Mackay, chairman, welcomed the appointment as a further fundamental step in bringing about radical change in the running of rugby in Scotland.
He said: ‘Over three years Phil has completely transformed the SRU’s commercial activities and has brought new dimensions to the way the organisation thinks and acts.
‘He has demonstrated a wider range of talents and skill than his current role demands and the board is delighted that he has accepted the job. Phil has more than measured up against a significant number of talented candidates identified in a search that was international in its reach.
‘Phil has an intimate knowledge of sport and rugby, particularly in Scotland, and he understands the need and the urgency for change in how the game is run and structured.
‘He is a modern, forward-looking manager and in his new role, he will be able to make an immense contribution to shaping a successful future for the game in Scotland.’
Anderton, 38, married with three daughters, said: ‘I believe that Scottish rugby has a great future if we go about it the right way. The time and the opportunity for change are here and the groundwork is under way.
‘The next few months will be crucial. We all have to be bold and radical in our thinking and build on the many positive aspects of the game. We have to expect that change will not be universally welcome, but doing nothing is not an option.
‘There are opportunities to make a real difference that will bring tangible benefits at all levels of the game, from grassroots to international teams. I just want to get on with the job, now,’ he added.
Since Anderton joined the SRU in June 2000 commercial income has risen by £11 million, ticket revenues increasing from £4million to more than £6million and sponsorship income trebling. There has been substantially increased broadcast coverage of rugby and he has significantly raised the public profile of rugby, as well as successfully marketing major events at Murrayfield.
Anderton was born in Edinburgh and educated at The Edinburgh Academy and St Andrews University. Between 1988 and 1993 he was with Procter and Gamble in Newcastle-upon-Tyne working on a variety of international consumer brands.
In 1993, he joined The Coca-Cola Company and during his career there worked on sports accounts including the Coca-Cola Cup and the Euro’ 96 football sponsorships. He was also based for two years at the Coca-Cola head office in Atlanta as global brand manager for Coca-Cola, where his sporting involvement included the rugby and soccer World Cups and the Winter Olympics.
Prior to his arrival at Murrayfield, Anderton was marketing director, colas, central Europe with The Coca-Cola Company – a post responsible for product development across 22 countries.
For further information please contact
Graham Law
0131 346 5164 or 07764 178940