Rugby

Kevin Potts appointed new CEO of the IRFU

Chief operating officer will take over from Philip Browne with union facing difficulties

Kevin Potts has been appointed CEO of the IRFU. Photo: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Wed Dec 22 2021 - 11:37

Kevin Potts will take over as chief executive of the IRFU on January 1st, succeeding Philip Browne who announced in September that he will step down from the role after 23 years.

Potts has been the chief operating officer at the IRFU since 2015 and previously spent more than a decade in the IFSC Dublin funds sector after qualifying as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 1992. On the pitch, Potts represented Ireland at schools and ‘A’ level and played for St Mary’s College.

Potts has occupied a series of senior management positions beginning with Deutsche International. He then joined BNP Paribas Fund Services Ireland as managing director, before being appointed managing director in 2003 of the then Irish Funds operation of Mellon Financial Corporation (now BNY Mellon).

Browne was previously due to step aside when he turned 60 but delayed the move after the Covid-19 pandemic struck, causing a severe financial impact for the IRFU.

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Potts comes into the top job at the union with the pandemic still a major issue and uncertainty now surrounding whether full houses will be possible at the Aviva Stadium for the Six Nations in February.

The IRFU has also faced a difficult couple of weeks since 62 current and former women players wrote to Government claiming a total breakdown of trust between the women’s game and the union.

After their initial response drew criticism from all quarters, including Government, the IRFU backed down and said that they will "fully publish the two independent reviews currently being undertaken into women's rugby" – reviews they had previously announced would be kept private.

“This is a huge honour for me,” said Potts in a statement released by the IRFU. “Rugby brings people together, on and off the field; and is a topic of conversation the length and breadth of the country, because people are passionate about it.

“Clearly the immediate challenges will be around the Six Nations Championships in these times of ongoing Covid uncertainty, the completion of the critically important reviews into our women’s game, and the continued support of our provinces and clubs in an ever-changing environment.

“Rugby has always played a central role in my life, both as a player and administrator, therefore, player welfare and the development of the game will be central to my decision making.

“I want to thank, and acknowledge the leadership of, Philip Browne over almost three decades at the fore of Irish rugby. Philip is one of the most respected CEOs in Ireland and across world rugby and it is an honour to succeed him.”