Abi Tierney has announced a new, streamlined, executive team structure at the Welsh Rugby Union, as she kicks-off her second year as CEO.
The new Executive Leadership team consists of five roles, where previously there were up to nine individuals, and will include a new Chief Growth Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, the Chief People Officer, a Director of Professional Rugby and a Director of the Community Game.
Two of the roles are actively being recruited for, including a global search for a Chief Growth Officer and a Director of Rugby, both keystone appointments in implementing Welsh rugby’s new headline ‘One Wales’ strategy launched last summer.
The current People Director, Lydia Stirling, will become Chief People Officer, with the WRU’s Governance function now reporting into this role. The role of Chief Financial Officer Leighton Davies also evolves, to become Chief Operating Officer, taking added responsibility for all operational aspects of the business, including Principality Stadium, the WRU legal team and Company Secretary duties.
Following the departure of Nigel Walker as Executive Director of Rugby in December 2024, executive responsibilities for the professional and community games in Wales are currently split between interim Performance Director, Huw Bevan and the incumbent Community Director Geraint John.
There will no longer be a Commercial and Legal Director role within the Executive team.
As a result of this, the Welsh Rugby Union’s Commercial and Legal Director, Rhodri Lewis, will leave the Group after 14-years’ service to Welsh rugby at the end of January.
Rhodri originally joined the WRU as Head of Legal Affairs in 2010 and became the WRU’s Group General Counsel and Company Secretary in 2018. In 2021 he was appointed Commercial and Legal Director and took on the extra responsibility for driving the commercial growth of the WRU.
Under his leadership, the WRU’s commercial team has increased commercial income by 26% from £14.5m in 2021/22 to £18.3m in 2023/24 and remains on track for further growth in the current financial year, including new commercial partnerships yet to be announced. In that time, the commercial programme has expanded and added new commercial partners such as Vodafone, GO.Compare, WE Soda and Nocco.
“Rhodri has made a significant contribution across multiple facets of Welsh rugby encompassing the community, professional and international game and our people,” said CEO Abi Tierney.
“We thank Rhodri for his significant commitment and contribution to the WRU and Welsh rugby and wish him every success for the future.”
The new Chief Growth Officer will have oversight and leadership of key commercial negotiations and will ensure a clear return on investment is maintained across all commercial WRU deals. They will take an active role in managing broadcast partnerships and oversee business development, partner account management and marketing operations as well as collaborating more closely with Welsh Professional Clubs to help grow their fan bases and commercial revenues.
But, Tierney explains, growth and efficiencies need to go hand in hand, if the significant ambitions of the newly launched five-year strategy are to be realised.
“The new Chief Growth Officer will be expected to generate more income for the business, so that more money can be fed back into the game in Wales.” says Tierney.
“Alongside these growth objectives, we have started a cost saving and efficiency programme which seeks to improve our financial foundations as part of the ‘One Wales’ strategy.
“Being a more efficient business doesn’t mean you turn off investment and we are keen to invest in the right areas to improve our income generation for the benefit of Welsh rugby.”
The extended Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the new Executive Team will continue to evolve and includes roles in the WRU’s legal, HR, marketing, communications, events and stadium facilities departments as well as a new high-profile appointment, the Head of Women’s Rugby.
“This new streamlined executive structure gives us a more efficient and more targeted leadership team, as well as giving us the opportunity to bring world class capability into the organisation” said WRU CEO Tierney.
“These will be the individuals and roles charged with enabling and implementing the new One Wales strategy, launched in headline form last summer.
“Together we will help Welsh rugby achieve the objectives set out in our strategy by allowing our talented and dedicated staff, and all those working in the best interests of rugby throughout the game in Wales, to reach their full potential.”
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