Mark Darbon has been appointed Chief Executive of the R&A and Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
In November, Darbon will succeed Martin Slumbers at the helm of the governing body and the organisation that runs the Open and the AIG Women’s Open. The executive will also become secretary of the legendary club, which has 270 years of history and more than 2,400 members worldwide.
The former member of the team that led the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2012, leaves his position as CEO of Northampton Saints, the rugby club of the Premiership, to take up the post in St Andrews.
Darbon has expressed his excitement at joining a historic institution in the sports field: “I am thrilled and feel honoured to take on these roles at The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and to move into golf, a sport I have always loved,” he said. “The R&A is a world-renowned organisation and does much to ensure that golf thrives from the grassroots to the game.
Niall Farquharson, Chairman of The R&A, wanted to welcome Darbon: “We have been greatly impressed by Mark’s knowledge and experience in the global sports industry, as well as his ability to develop successful teams and organise fantastic events. We believe he will be an excellent leader for The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and will play a key role in helping us achieve our goal of ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for golf.”
