Andrew Williams boosts new-look Board

One of the most successful and longest-serving CEOs in the FTSE 100 of the past two decades, Cardiff-born Andrew Williams, will shortly be appointed as an independent Non-Executive Director (iNED) to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Board.

Williams completes a group of eight high calibre externally appointed directors to the governing body, in a Boardroom revamp made possible by a 97% majority vote of member clubs last March.

The new-look Board, led by the WRU’s first iNED chair Richard Collier-Keywood, has now doubled the number of externally appointed directors, vastly increasing its range of skillsets and experience.

The final step in completing the Board team will be adding four newly elected member-club directors, following the elections that will be held later this week.

Williams led Halma plc, a global group of life-saving technology companies with operations in over 20 countries, for 18 consecutive years of growth and increased its market capitalisation from £600million to over £8.5billion.

Prior to his retirement in March this year, he was hailed by the Sunday Times, as ‘The best CEO you’ve never heard of.’

He is also a Founding Patron of GlobalWelsh, the Welsh diaspora organisation, and has been a lifelong Cardiff supporter and gained an in depth understanding of the professional game in Wales as a former Cardiff Rugby Board member.

“I’m delighted to be returning to rugby and look forward to helping to address some of the significant challenges and opportunities ahead,” said Williams.

“Following the recently implemented Board changes, I am pleased the WRU has made some important statements recently about the need for the WRU to work positively with the professional clubs, which I see as a vital step to improved success at all levels.

“Alongside the cultural changes already underway, we cannot underestimate the ongoing financial challenges and that growth, both in the wider business and the game in Wales, is absolutely vital to ensure our recovery is sustainable in a way which embraces all stakeholders.

“I’m looking forward to working with Richard, Abi and the whole organisation in putting Welsh rugby back onto to a sounder footing both on- and off-the-field.”

Williams shares the WRU new leadership’s belief that success and growth can be both accelerated and sustained through a practical commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

Whilst leading Halma, he transformed the leadership and culture of the organisation, culminating in Halma being ranked No.2 out of 600+ companies across Europe for gender diversity in leadership positions and Williams himself voted by his peers for a prestigious Involve HERoes Women Role Model award as the No.1 global ‘Advocate Executive’.

Originally from Heath in Cardiff, he attended Llanishen High School followed by gaining an Engineering degree at the University of Birmingham, and subsequently qualifying as a Chartered Engineer.

He has also studied in the Advanced Management Programme at The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.

WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood is delighted to have been able to attract Williams back to the Welsh rugby family.

“This is a major coup for Welsh rugby and one that reinforces our brand and supports the reform path we are on,” said Collier-Keywood.

“We are delighted to have been able to persuade a former FTSE100 CEO of Andrew’s standing to come back into the Welsh rugby family at a time when we need top commercial experience on the Board.”

NEW WRU BOARD:

The WRU Board pre-2023 AGM, held last Sunday 19th November was:
Nigel Walker (CEO), *Richard Collier- Keywood (chair), *Alison Thorne, *Amanda Bennett, Henry Englehardt, Cat Read, Phil Thomas, Chris Jones, Colin Wilks, Dave Young, John Manders, Malcolm Wall

*Directors appointed after governance changes were voted through last March

Following the AGM Dave Young and Henry Engelhardt have been succeeded by Jamie Roberts and Jennifer Matthias, who are both appointed iNEDs

New iNED Andrew Williams will replace current director Cat Read in January.

Abi Tierney replaces Nigel Walker as CEO, also in January (with Walker moving to a new non-Board role of Executive Director of Performance)

Elections for the remaining four Board positions take place later this week, with members elected from the WRU Council.