SRU announce senior appointments

The Scottish Rugby Union today announced that international businessman in the leisure and technology sector, Ken Scobie, is to be Chairman of its new Executive Board and that John Thorburn, who has been involved in rugby as a player and administrator for 30 years, is to be Manager of the Domestic Game. Chief Executive Bill Watson hailed the appointments. "Both men bring the business and rugby skills to take the SRU into the 21st century. Their appointments were advanced by the Lord Mackay Review Panel and backed enthusiastically by our member clubs." SRU President Harvey Wright believes the new posts give added impetus to the changes triggered when member clubs voted to endorse the Mackay Report last year. "Lord Mackay's panel established a pathway to create a harmonious climate for the future development of rugby in Scotland. The arrival of these two outstanding candidates - recruited through the precise processes which Lord Mackay and our clubs outlined - gives that pathway a very strong foundation," he said. Ken Scobie is a 61-year-old chartered accountant by profession. He takes on the non-executive role of board chairman. Scobie was educated at Daniel Stewart's and Edinburgh University and in a career which has included spells in Brussels and South Africa, he has been chairman/chief executive of a Stock Exchange listed company since the age of 33. He is currently chairman of the Chemring Group PLC, world leaders in the hi-tech arena of aero-defence and marine safety; and Allied Leisure PLC, whose interests include leisure centres, pubs and restaurants. Earlier in his career he revived the fortunes of construction and mining- equipment company Blackwood Hodge PLC, which had operations in more than 50 countries worldwide, and, latterly, the rebuilding as deputy chairman and chief executive of Brent Walker, the huge leisure conglomerate. Son of a Scottish cricket internationalist, he was a well- known Grange cricketer and East of Scotland tennis player. After playing for his school rugby first XV he restricted himself to social rugby with Stewart's-College FP and London Scottish until the age of 33. In 1997 he was appointed President of London Scottish FC and has direct experience of much of the game's teething troubles south of the border. Harvey Wright said: "Scottish rugby is most fortunate to have secured the services of a man of the calibre of Ken Scobie. I am sure that his drive, vision and business acumen, particularly in the leisure and technology sectors will prove a considerable boon to Scottish rugby. "The fact that Ken has such a deep-rooted passion for the game is an added bonus." Ken Scobie said: "It is an enormous honour to be given this new role and I realise the responsibility to try to make it work for the benefit of Scottish rugby. During my business career I have experienced going into companies where matters have been fraught and it's been a battle to get the top line and the bottom line to balance. That's not something with which I have either a problem or am unfamiliar," he added. John Thorburn is a 46-year-old commercial printer from Hawick who has been a Borders District representative on the SRU Committee since 1996. He will step down from the SRU committee before taking up his post towards the end of March, thus necessitating an election in the Borders. Thorburn has played for Hawick PSA, Hawick YM and Boroughmuir and held a number of administrative posts within these clubs, including fixture/match secretary at Boroughmuir and secretary at Hawick. In 1997 he was appointed chairman of the SRU's Domestic Game Board whose remit includes all club rugby issues, the club championship, university rugby, refereeing, sevens, medical issues, domestic fixtures and club accreditation. John Thorburn explained: " I am acutely aware that one of the accusations levelled at the SRU has been cronyism. Before I applied for the post of Manager of the Domestic Game I approached a cross-section of high profile representatives from the club game in Scotland including Stuart Henderson, David Kilshaw from the Premier League Clubs' Association, John Mackay, a past chairman of Scottish Premier Rugby Limited, and Malcolm Gillies, chairman of the Scottish Rugby Clubs' Association. "All indicated their support for my decision to stand and said they would be happy to work with me if I was successful. I would not have gone ahead without that assurance," he added. Melrose secretary Stuart Henderson said: "John has been a club man with both Boroughmuir and Hawick. He knows the problems that clubs are encountering at present. He is as good a man the clubs could have at this time to take things forward and create a vibrant club scene. "He knows it will not be easy because of the many requirements of the international game but he has our support." David Kilshaw commented: "During his time as chairman of the Domestic Game Board, John Thorburn has worked tirelessly for the progression of the game at all levels and I'm sure he'll do a marvellous job." Malcolm Gillies, president of National League Division 4 club Lismore, said: "I am delighted with John's appointment. We have worked with him in the past and know that he has the interests of club rugby very much at heart." Bill Watson said selection of both candidates was undertaken through an independent recruitment consultant, Thomson Partners. Thomson Partners' Ronnie Cleland said: "The process which we followed was extremely thorough, ranging from the detailed preparation of a specification on the appointments to the skills, experience and qualities required of potential candidates. Candidates were identified through both advertising and executive search. "We conducted all recruitment work to the highest standards, as befits a fair and open competition, while clearly respecting the confidentiality of individual candidates." Bill Watson concluded: "An exciting new era is underway for Scottish rugby. We hope to make the announcement of other appointments, including our commercial director and the non- executive directors, by the end of the month. It will not be long before all our new appointments are hard at work with clubs, staff and General Committee to bring renewed success to Scottish rugby." For further information please contact the SRU: Tel: +44 131 346 5000 Fax: +44 131 346 5001 Website: www.sru.org.uk E-Mail: feedback@sru.org.uk