The Scottish Rugby Union today named three non-executive directors – leaders from the finance, property and media sectors – to take up posts on its new-look Board.
‘The appointments demonstrate the confidence which the business community in Scotland has in the future of Scottish Rugby,’ said SRU Chief Executive Bill Watson.
Joining international businessman Ken Scobie, who was named last month as chairman of the new Board are Andrew Flanagan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Media Group; Fraser Livingston, chairman of chartered surveyors NAI Gooch Webster; and Bill Wilson, a director with Noble Grossart and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. Biographies of all three men are attached.
The appointments are part of the process triggered by member clubs when they voted to endorse the report of Lord Mackay’s Review Panel into the structure and governance of Scottish rugby last autumn.
Lord Mackay, a former Lord Advocate, concluded that a new board was required to work in partnership with the Union’s General Committee – directly elected by member clubs – and professional staff. Lord Mackay’s reasoning? ‘Rugby is a big business and must be run as such.’
Ken Scobie said: ‘We have been humbled by the quality of people who wish to serve Scottish rugby and we are delighted with the three gentlemen who have agreed to serve our game in this manner.’
SRU President Harvey Wright added: ‘Our confidence in tackling the many challenges of the future is buoyed by the new Executive Board’s desire to assist the governing body, sport and, above all, the nation.’
Biographies of the non-executive directors on the SRU’s executive board
Andrew Flanagan
Andrew Flanagan, 43, is Chief Executive of the Scottish Media Group whom he joined as Director of Finance in March 1994. He was appointed Group Managing Director in May 1996 and took up his present post in December 1997.
SMG’s interests include Scottish Television and Grampian Television, The Herald, The Evening Times and The Sunday Herald.
Andrew qualified as an accountant with Touche Ross in Glasgow before rounding off his professional practice experience with Price Waterhouse in Brussels. He was educated at Hillhead High School and Glasgow University.
He is also a director of ITV, GMTV and Heart of Midlothian Football Club and, based in Glasgow, is married with a young son and daughter
Fraser Livingston
Fraser Livingston, 53, is Chairman of NAI Gooch Webster, one of the top ten UK independent national chartered surveying practices. He is based in Glasgow and his company is part of the global NAI organisation which is represented in more than 300 markets and specialises in
commercial and industrial property.
Earlier in his career he was managing director of J Trevor & Webster Limited – a merger of two wholly owned subsidiaries of Abbey National plc. Fraser bought out the business from Abbey National in October 1995 and was integral to the subsequent merger of J Trevor & Webster
with Gooch & Wagstaff in May 1998 which created Gooch Webster.
On the rugby front, he is a director and shareholder of West of Scotland Football Company Limited. From 1994-96 he was secretary to Glasgow District and for a 10 year period from 1983 was secretary of West of Scotland.
He has also served on the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and is married with three children.
Bill Wilson
Bill Wilson, 62, brings a wealth of experience from the world of finance. He is a past Chairman and Chief Executive of global leaders in the insurance broker market Alexander & Alexander (Europe plc) – now Aon Risk Services Limited for whom he continues to act as a consultant.
He has been Director of Edinburgh based merchant bank Noble Grossart since its foundation in 1969 and has been a Director of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc since 1993.
A CA by profession, he has retained a strong rugby interest throughout his life. He is a life member of Merchistonians and London Scottish and a member of Stirling County.
He is based in Braco, Perthshire and is married with three children.
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