The R&A has decided its substitute for Martin Slumbers.
Mark Darbon was introduced Monday because the governing physique’s new chief government and secretary of the Royal and Historical Golf Membership of St. Andrews. Darbon, 45, leaves his function as CEO of the Northampton Saints, a Premiership Rugby membership that final month received its first title since 2014.
Slumbers introduced again in January that he was stepping down by the tip of the 12 months, ending a nine-year run within the function.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be taking over 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 at all times cherished,” Darbon stated. “The R&A is a globally famend group and does a lot to make sure that golf prospers from grassroots via to the skilled recreation. I’m trying ahead to working with a vastly gifted workforce of employees, the membership membership and such a powerful array of associate organizations to realize much more success within the years to return.”
Previous to becoming a member of Northampton, Darbon was a senior member of the London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. He then served as an knowledgeable adviser to the Worldwide Olympic Committee from 2013 to 2018. He additionally labored as senior vice chairman of Powerful Mudder and CEO of Madison Sports activities Group. With Madison, Darbon helped create a global collection for skilled observe biking.
Darbon’s golf handicap is 3.1 and he used to compete for England’s Beneath-21 hockey workforce. He’s a graduate of Oxford’s Worcester Faculty.
“We have been tremendously impressed with Mark’s data and expertise of the worldwide sport business and his capability to develop profitable groups and ship unbelievable occasions,” Niall Farquharson, chairman of the R&A, stated. “We consider he will probably be a superb chief for the R&A and the Royal and Historical Golf Membership of St. Andrews and can play a key function in serving to us to realize our objective of guaranteeing a affluent and sustainable future for golf.”
