R&A announces name to fill Martin Slumbers shoes as new Chief Executive

Mark Darbon will be the new Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Darbon will succeed Martin Slumbers in November having previously been a senior team member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012.

Darbon, 45, is leaving his role as CEO of Northampton Saints of the rugby Premiership. He helped the side to its first Premiership title since 2014 last month and inspired the club to achieve record revenues in consecutive seasons after the pandemic.

“I am thrilled and honoured to be taking up these positions with The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and to be moving into golf, a sport I have always loved,” Darbon said.

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(Image credit: R&A)

Mark Darbon to assume role of R&A Chief Executive in November

“The R&A is a globally renowned organisation and does so much to ensure that golf prospers from grassroots through to the professional game. I am looking forward to working with a hugely talented team of staff, the Club membership and such an impressive array of partner organisations to achieve even more success in the years to come.”

Darbon is a geography graduate of Worcester College at Oxford University. As well as working on London 2012, he was involved in planning, promoting and staging large events in North America, Latin America, Europe and Australia as Senior Vice President of Tough Mudder.

Before joining Northampton in 2017, Darbon was the CEO of Madison Sports Group which created an international series of professional track and cycling events and helped to bring new sponsorships and media rights deals to the sport.

He is a member of Saunton Golf Club and has a handicap index of 3.1.

“We were greatly impressed with Mark’s knowledge and experience of the global sports industry and his ability to develop successful teams and deliver fantastic events,” R&A Chairman Niall Farquharson said.

“We believe he will be an excellent leader for The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and will play a key role in helping us to achieve our goal of ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for golf.”

This R&A announcement has arrived two weeks before the start of Open Championship week at Royal Troon in Scotland.

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