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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Author
The R&A has tabbed rugby membership CEO Mark Darbon as its new chief government and secretary of The Royal and Historical Golf Membership of St. Andrews in Scotland, the governing board introduced on Monday.
Darbon, CEO of the Northampton Saints, replaces Martin Slumbers, who introduced on Jan. 10 that he’s retiring on the finish of this yr.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be taking on these positions with The R&A and The Royal and Historical Golf Membership of St Andrews and to be shifting into golf, a sport I’ve all the time cherished,” Darbon stated in a press release.
“The R&A is a globally famend group and does a lot to make sure that golf prospers from grassroots by to the skilled sport. I’m trying ahead to working with a vastly proficient group of workers, the membership membership and such a powerful array of accomplice organizations to realize much more success within the years to return.”
Darbon, 45, is a former senior member of the London Olympic Video games and Paralympic Video games organizing committee. Final month, he helped information the Northampton Saints to their first Premiership title since 2014.
Darbon beforehand labored as senior vice chairman of Powerful Mudder and CEO of Madison Sports activities Group, which created a global collection {of professional} monitor biking occasions.
“We had been enormously impressed with Mark’s data and expertise of the worldwide sport business and his skill to develop profitable groups and ship implausible occasions,” R&A md Niall Farquharson stated in a press release. “We imagine he can be a superb chief for The R&A and The Royal and Historical Golf Membership of St Andrews and can play a key position in serving to us to realize our objective of guaranteeing a affluent and sustainable future for golf.”
Slumbers, who served within the position for the previous 9 years, will oversee this month’s Open Championship, scheduled for July 18-21 at Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland, and the AIG Ladies’s Open on the Previous Course at St. Andrews on Aug. 22-25.
DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley stepped down in April and accepted a job with Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure in his native Canada. On Wednesday, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh introduced that he was not renewing his contract, which expired Sunday.
