Mark Darbon has been appointed Chief Government of the R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Historic Golf Membership of St Andrews.
Darbon, 45, is leaving his position as chief govt of Northampton Rugby Membership, who gained their first Premier League title since 2014 final month, to succeed Martin Slumbers and formally take up his new position in November.
“I’m very excited and honored to take up these positions on the R&A and the Royal and Historic Golf Membership of St Andrews and transfer into golf, a sport I’ve all the time liked,” Darbon stated.
“The R&A is a world-renowned group that does a lot to make sure that golf thrives from the grassroots to the skilled recreation.
“I sit up for working with a particularly proficient staff of employees, membership members and such a formidable array of associate organizations to realize even larger success within the years forward.”
Niall Farquharson, chairman of the R&A, stated: “We’ve been very impressed with Mark’s information and expertise of the worldwide sports activities business and his means to construct profitable groups and ship implausible occasions.
“We imagine he can be a superb chief for the R&A and the Royal and Historic Golf Membership of St Andrews and can play a key position in serving to us obtain our purpose of securing a affluent and sustainable future for golf.”
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In a separate Saints press launch, Darbon stated: “Leaving Northampton Saints has been an extremely troublesome determination for me.
“Over the previous seven years, my household and I’ve liked our time in Northampton and developed a ardour and attachment to the Saints that may stick with us perpetually.
“I’m very pleased with what we’ve achieved throughout my tenure. Rugby has confronted some vital challenges, however the membership is nicely positioned to proceed to reach the longer term, on and off the sphere, whereas remaining on the coronary heart of our area people in Northampton.
“My household and I’ll stay very near the membership as followers and I’m delighted to stay in some capability on the Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, remaining on the board as a non-executive director.”
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