Er 2015 Appoints Rugby Operations Director

England Rugby 2015 has appointed Neil Snowball, previously head of sport operations for LOCOG, to the new role of rugby operations director as part of a wider organisational restructure as the tournament organiser of the 2015 Rugby World Cup moves from planning to the operational phase.

England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015) will be reorganised in two distinct areas: Rugby Operations and Business Operations. The Rugby Operations Department will be led by Snowball reporting directly into chief executive, Debbie Jevans. 

Rugby Operations will oversee the staging of the 48 match tournament and has five areas of responsibility: Rugby Services; Venue Operations; Tournament Services; City Operations; and Tournament Technology.

The Business Operations Department will encompass five strands: Ticketing & Commercial; Communications & Marketing; Finance; HR & Volunteering; and Legal. Each of the heads of the five business units will report directly into the chief executive.

The decision has also been reached that the roles of chief operating officer and general manager for marketing and communications, held by Ross Young and Jon Duckworth respectively, cease to exist, with both leaving ER 2015 with immediate effect. 

According to the official media release, current employees whose roles are affected by the reorganisation will have new positions within ER 2015.

Jevans said: ‘The Rugby World Cup draw on 3rd December marked a step change for ER 2015 from planning to an operational phase. ER 2015 needs a structure that reflects that change and ensures: more direct focus on the delivery of the tournament; clearer reporting lines and accountability; and better defined business operations that reflect our changing priorities.’

‘Neil Snowball did a fantastic job as head of sport operations for LOCOG and was responsible for the sporting operational framework which delivered the Games. He managed a multi-million pound budget and oversaw the delivery around venues, training bases, team liaison and all of the logistics that support such a huge undertaking,’ added Jevans. ‘I would like to thank Ross and Jon for their contribution in getting ER 2015 to where it is.’

An executive search consultancy has been appointed to undertake a recruitment process for a communications & marketing director, with a new appointment expected to be in position by January 2013.