Rugby League boards continue to become more inclusive as Salford Red Devils announce six appointments

Salford Red Devils have become the latest club to announce significant changes at board level, thanks to a ground-breaking partnership between the Rugby Football League (RFL) and executive search firm Inclusive Boards. 

Inclusive Boards specialises in supporting organisations to become more inclusive, through greater board diversity and stronger governance structures. The Red Devils have co-opted an additional six executive and non-executive directors to the board of Salford RD Holdings, the driver behind the history-making Reds Rise Together campaign making the club the first wholly and legally community-owned top-flight-club. 

Joining the board executive are: Chartered Accountant Anna Hardy-Watmough; businesswoman, Salford supporter and Rugby League player Heather Robinson; management consultant Oli Randell and business consultant Shah-Zeib Ahmed. In addition, businessman Alex Romer and talent director Ian Turner have been appointed as non-executive directors. 

Salford Red Devils’ Paul King says:  “We are delighted to welcome our new co-opted and non-exec directors to the board and to the family of our wonderful club. To the backdrop of some of the most exciting on-field efforts in our club’s recent history, we have worked tirelessly to deliver some of the most ambitious projects to date – most recently our Reds Rise Together community ownership scheme. 

“In this latest evolution of the board – now stronger and more diverse than ever – we are providing a continuity of support to those efforts and seeking to safeguard the future of the club. Each addition arrives with core interests and key skillsets that collectively compliment and advance the delivery of our strategy, thus allowing us to ensure that we remain able to provide benefit to our growing community. 

“Our thanks are extended to the RFL and Inclusive Boards for their collaboration throughout the recruitment process.”  

RFL Inclusion Lead, Ben Abberstein, adds:  “Rugby League is a sport that takes great pride in its history of diversity and representation at the highest level. The Club Board Diversity Project aims to ensure that this is present at leadership levels. This project is another important part of our TACKLE IT inclusion strategy and a massive step forward for the game – a step that is only made possible by the commitment of clubs such as Salford Red Devils.” 

Through the Rugby League Club Board Diversity Project, an initial 10 professional clubs are working with the RFL and Inclusive Boards to broaden and strengthen the skills, knowledge and expertise within their boardrooms. The 10 clubs are: Barrow Raiders; Halifax Panthers; Huddersfield Giants; Hunslet; Midland Hurricanes; Salford Red Devils; Sheffield Eagles; Swinton Lions; Wakefield Trinity; Widnes Vikings. Inclusive Boards is working alongside all participating clubs.  

More information about Inclusive Boards is available at inclusiveboards.co.uk 

More information about the board changes at Salford Red Devils is available at salfordredevils.net