Page 38 - RFU Annual Report 2017

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Director’s Report

Corporate Governance

The Board

Jeff Blackett
Jeff Blackett is Chairman of the Professional year term from the 2014 AGM. Jeff played for
Game Board, having joined the Council US Portsmouth, London University, the Royal
in 2000 as Royal Navy representative and Navy and Hampshire, and is president of US
served as Honorary Disciplinary Officer for Portsmouth RFC and a life member of the
ten years. Co-opted without portfolio in 2013, Royal Navy Rugby Union. A Senior Circuit
he became Chairman of Governance and a Judge and Deputy High Court judge, he is
member of the Board of Directors for a three- the Armed Forces Judge Advocate General.

Rob Briers
Chairman of the Community Game and has served on the Governance
Board, Rob Briers is one of Lancashire’s Committee and Player Development Sub-
representatives on Council. A member of Committee. Past President of Lancashire
the Championship Committee and NCA County, he played for West Park St Helens,
Executive and previously the Adult and Age Lancashire, North West Counties, the North
Grade Competition Review Groups, Rob of England and England U23s. He is a retired
chaired the Competitions Sub-Committee Chartered Secretary.

Steve Brown
Steve Brown was appointed RFU Chief was UK Finance Director for five years after a
Executive on 1 September 2017, having decade with the company, covering a number
joined the RFU as Chief Financial Officer of other senior financial positions, including
on 10 June, 2011. He also served as UK Pharmaceutical manufacturing and at
Managing Director of England Rugby 2015, Abbott’s Paris-based Commercial Regional
responsible for organising the England Headquarters. Prior to joining Abbott, Brown
2015 Rugby World Cup, widely acclaimed spent three years as the Business Support
as the most successful Rugby World Cup Manager and Group Head of Finance for
ever. The impact of hosting the event saw British Energy PLC. He originally trained as
the highest annual turnover in the RFU’s an accountant in the National Health Service
history and record investment in rugby. He where he held a number of financial roles,
was subsequently appointed RFU Chief including Audit Manager for a group of eight
Officer, Business Operations. Before joining NHS Trusts. He is a Fellow of the Chartered
the RFU, Brown was at Abbott, the global, Association of Certified Accountants.
broad-based health care company, where he

Andy Cosslett
Andy Cosslett was elected Chairman of the Andy has a lifelong association with rugby.
Rugby Football Union Board in October He played for 25 years, and is Vice President
2016, replacing Bill Beaumont who became of Weybridge Vandals. His 30 year global
Chairman of World Rugby. Cosslett business experience has seen him hold CEO
previously held an Independent Non- roles at Fitness First and InterContinental
Executive Director role on the RFU Board Hotels Group. He also spent 14 years
and, as Chairman of England Rugby 2015, with Cadbury Schweppes in a variety of
oversaw the delivery of the biggest Rugby senior roles around the world. He has been
World Cup in history. Chairman of Kingfisher plc since June 2017.

Chris Cuthbertson
Middlesex representative on the Council to promote competitive rugby for the
since 2003, Chris Cuthbertson is Chairman county’s lower sides. He also helped relaunch
of Governance and also chairs the Laws the county’s ladies team as Manager and
Sub Committee. He is a member of the Assistant Coach. He is the long-term
Remuneration Committee. A Vice President Secretary of Hammersmith & Fulham RFC,
of Middlesex Rugby and a member of their where he helped to launch their women’s and
Management and General Committees, youth sections.
Chris launched the Middlesex Merit Table

Annual Report 2017