Jevans Steps Down From England 2015

29 Mar 2015 | sigadmin

Share on

Debbie Jevans has resigned as chief executive of England’s World Cup 2015 organising committee, citing personal reasons, six months before the tournament is scheduled to kick off.

Jevans was director of sport at London Olympic organisers LOCOG before taking on the World Cup post in October 2012.

The former director of sport for LOCOG leaves with most of the work done in terms of preparing for the tournament and 1.9m of approximately 2.3m tickets sold. However, her surprise resignation will leave a big gap at the top of the Rugby Football Union subsidiary, England Rugby 2015, formed to organise the tournament.

Jevans, who took on the Rugby World Cup post in October 2012, said in a statement: “This is the right decision for me to make at this time.”

“I am immensely proud of the team and all that we have achieved in the time that I have been chief executive.

“Everything is in place to ensure that this is the best Rugby World Cup ever, and I am confident my team will deliver an exceptional tournament. The organisation is strong, there is a great team in place and I am really looking forward to watching the Rugby World Cup as a fan later this year.”

England Rugby 2015’s chief financial officer Stephen Brown will become the new managing director, working alongside chairman Andy Cosslett.

Brown – also the Rugby Football Union CFO – previously stood in as RFU chief executive when John Steele left in 2011, prior to the arrival of the current incumbent Ian Ritchie.

Ritchie appointed Jevans to replace Paul Vaughan as the head of the body responsible for delivering the tournament to a tight budget, given the £80m tournament fee that has to be paid to World Rugby to host it.

Cosslett added: “On behalf of the ER 2015 Board I would like to extend our enormous appreciation for all that Debbie has brought to the role.

“Her legacy will be seen during and after the tournament is delivered, with a sporting event that I fully believe will be both memorable and inspiring, creating a step change in interest and participation for the game in this country.”

The 48-match tournament begins on 18th September when England play Fiji at Twickenham.