The R&A has appointed Mark Darbon as the new Chief Executive of the governing body, succeeding Martin Slumbers. Darbon joins the R&A from rugby’s Northampton Saints, where he served as CEO of the England-based team.
After announcing his resignation in January, Slumbers, who served for nine years, will be stepping down by the end of the year. Darbon will not only oversee the R&A, which manages the Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open, among other tournaments, but also serve as the Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Previously, Darbon led Northampton to its first title in the Premiership division last month. He has also been involved in the London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Darbon expressed his excitement for the new role and his love for the sport of golf, stating his readiness to work with the talented staff and partners of the R&A to achieve further success in the future.
Mark Darbon, an Oxford University graduate, holds a 3.1 Handicap Index and is a member of Northamptonshire County Golf Club and Saunton Golf Club. Married with two children, Darbon plans to move his family to St. Andrews in the near future, as per the R&A.
