Board shake-up Down Under
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) have announced that three current Board Directors have volunteered to resign or retire over the next five months.
The changes follow the approval of the new Australian Rugby Constitution in late 2012.
Current Australian CEO of Savill's and former Wallaby captain and Australian Rugby President, Paul McLean has been appointed to the Board, replacing George Gregan.
John Mumm has announced he will retire at the October Board meeting and Peter Cosgrove has announced he will retire in December.
At the meeting, the ARU Board also approved of the appointment of Cameron Clyne, the current Group Chief Executive Officer of NAB, effective 1 December 2013.
The ARU's Nominations Committee of the Board are currently searching for a third Director to join the Board before the end of the year.
ARU Chairman Michael Hawker welcomed the appointments of McLean and Clyne, and thanked the retiring Directors for their valuable contribution.
"Paul McLean will be a terrific addition to our team. He brings the combination of strong commercial credentials from working in senior roles with a global real estate company and a rugby pedigree which includes extensive experience as a player and administrator," Hawker said.
"We will also welcome Cameron Clyne's business acumen from the banking and professional services sector and leadership of Australia's top listed companies to the ARU at a time of change and opportunity for our game. He will take up the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee," he added.
McLean's appointment is effective immediately, following Gregan's resignation from the Board to pursue business interests and other roles in rugby which he would have been unable to undertake as a Board Director.
Gregan was originally appointed as the Rugby Union Players' Association representative on the Board and provided the Board with great knowledge of rugby and a perspective of recent professional players. He has served as a Board member since April 2012.
Mumm has been a Board member since October 2007 and is the current Chair of the Human Resources sub-committee and is a member of the Audit and Risk sub-committee. He was appointed as an Independent Director nominee of the NSW Rugby Union, and has been a very active and diligent Board Director, with strong people management and Board governance experience.
Cosgrove has been a Board member for nearly six years split across two separate terms. He has been the Chair of the Board Governance sub-committee, which successfully oversaw the introduction of the new Australian Rugby Union Constitution and has provided reliable service to rugby in his time as a Board member.
"On behalf of the Board, I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution that George, John and Peter have made to the game in their capacity as Board members. We look forward to their continued contribution to the game outside the Boardroom," Hawker said.
The changes follow the appointment of a new ARU CEO, Bill Pulver, earlier this year and the appointment of two new Board Directors in 2012 including Australian Rugby's first female Board member, Ann Sherry, and its first Western Australian Board Director, Geoffrey Stooke.