Scottish Golf Limited names first chair

• Eleanor Cannon appointed inaugural chair of Scottish Golf Limited
• The highly qualified director was the ‘stand out candidate’
• “I’m enormously proud to have been appointed,” said Eleanor

Eleanor Cannon has revealed her pride and heralded a fresh start for the sport after being appointed as the inaugural chair of Scottish Golf Limited.

Following the historic decision to amalgamate the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) into a single governing body for amateur golf in Scotland from October 1, Eleanor will use her extensive strategic and commercial background as a highly qualified director to lead the new organisation in the non-executive chair role for an initial three-year term.

Succeeding the current chairs of both governing bodies, Tom Craig (SGU) and Beth Paterson (SLGA), Eleanor, 50, will seek to lead the ongoing development of golf in Scotland and meet the challenges the sport faces.

“I’m determined to help meet the many challenges the game faces in Scotland” – Eleanor Cannon

Speaking about her appointment, Eleanor said: “I’m enormously proud to have been appointed as the new chair of Scottish Golf Limited and look forward to this exciting opportunity.

“It’s a position of great responsibility and I’m determined to help meet the many challenges the game faces in Scotland, including providing greater support to our clubs and players and projecting golf as a modern, inclusive sport with a positive image to attract more players.

“I’m a proud and passionate golfer, proud of golf’s role in the history of sport in Scotland and passionate about the values and disciplines that it instils. I now look forward to the next three years with great optimism.”

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SGU chair Tom Craig.

With a very impressive CV, Eleanor offers considerable board experience within public and private companies, and has inspired and implemented change in challenging commercial and cultural environments.

After graduating from the University of St Andrews, Eleanor started her career with Marks & Spencer PLC before serving nine years at Tesco PLC, where she became a general manager and then global head of customer service. She joined Scottish & Newcastle PLC in 1997 and held various board positions during a nine-year spell and since 2008, she has run an executive coaching business.

Eleanor has also held trustee and director positions in five charities over the past 18 years and has a strong golfing background with her mother and father past Ladies and Club captains at Ralston GC. Her father, Rennie Matthew, went on to become president of Glasgow Golf Union.

A former Girls champion at Ralston, Eleanor has been a member at various clubs wherever her work has taken her geographically in Scotland and is currently a member at Ranfurly Castle GC in Renfrewshire.

In a joint statement, Tom and Beth said: “We are delighted that Eleanor has accepted the position of chair of Scottish Golf Limited.

“Eleanor is a very experienced and talented individual” – Tom Craig & Beth Paterson

“She was the stand out candidate amongst a high quality pool of applicants for the role. Eleanor is a very experienced and talented individual. The new unified governing body for Scottish amateur golf offers huge opportunities going forward.  We are confident that Eleanor is the person to lead the body into a new and exciting era for golf in Scotland.”

The new chair will now be involved in the process to fill the eight other non-executive director positions, with appointments to be announced in due course.

Eleanor Cannon inaugural chair :: Your thoughts

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