Scottish Golf appoints new board

• Scottish Golf unveils its new board of nine directors
• The team boasts wide-ranging business and golf experience
• “We have a delightful balance,” said chair Eleanor Cannon

Scottish Golf unveiled its new board of directors, with the appointment of an exciting new leadership team boasting wide-ranging business and golf experience.

Following the historic decision to amalgamate the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) into a unified governing body on October 1, nine directors been recruited following a significant response for applications.

The team of non-executive directors, four of who are new to golf administration, will take responsibility for a number of important areas under the leadership of Eleanor Cannon, the recently appointed chair.

“I’m very excited at the make-up of the new board” – Eleanor Cannon

“I’m very excited at the make-up of the new board and we have a great opportunity to take the sport forward,” said Cannon. “We have a delightful balance with the eight non-executive directors.

“We have individuals with experience and, at the same time, we are bringing in people with a fresh perspective, having not been involved at all in the administration of golf. Collectively, they will offer new ideas and a real hunger to make a difference to ensure we build on the momentum in terms of the work already being achieved with clubs throughout Scotland.”

CONTINUES BELOW… 

The full board is as follows:

• Eleanor Cannon (Chair);
• Neil MacDonald (Championships);
• Sandy Anderson (Club development);
• Roz Cuschieri (Commercial);
• Malcolm Robertson (Communications);
• Malcolm Kpedekpo (Finance);
• Audrey Sturgess (Integration, responsible for handicapping and course rating);
• Stewart Darling (Participation);
• Stephen Doherty (Performance).

The new appointments reflect the importance of experience and continuity, combined with a fresh perspective and a desire for a blend of golf and business expertise, with the new board set a requirement of a minimum of three directors of each gender to ensure appropriate representation within the organisation.

A selection panel, led by Cannon and former chairs Tom Craig (SGU) and Beth Paterson (SLGA), worked alongside a professional, independent HR consultancy to oversee the interviewing and selection of candidates, recruiting people with a genuine passion for golf, combined with the qualifications, skills and determination to drive the game forward.

CONTINUES BELOW… 

Rather than three-year terms for all nine members of the board, Cannon has put in place succession planning to provide continuity and help nurture others into positions.

“Instead of all nine people leaving together at the end of three year-terms, we have created different lengths of terms for each of the directors, namely one, two and three-year terms,” added Cannon. “That has allowed us to introduce real talent into the committee structure with a view to them helping coach and nurture individuals onto the board in the coming years.

The new directors will attend quarterly board meetings, as well as supporting the work of the new organisation’s committees across its key areas. The director roles are non-executive and not remunerated outside of expenses, with appointments effective from October 1, 2015.