The Welsh Rugby Union has appointed its first female chief executive.
At a conference on Thursday, the union announced Abi Tierney as its CEO – making Wales only the second country in the world with a female chief executive in charge of their rugby union.
Ms Tierney is currently director general for customer services at the Home Office.
Her appointment comes after the previous CEO resigned back in January after allegations of racism, sexism and homophobia within the WRU emerged.
A BBC documentary revealed allegations of a “toxic culture” within the organisation after they spoke to former employees at the game’s governing body in Wales.
Currently, 11 of the 12 members of the WRU’s board are male.
But the union’s ambition, approved by its members, is to ensure at least 40% of the board’s members are women.
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Ms Tierney says the opportunity to lead the WRU is “an immense privilege” and aims to “make a lasting positive difference at such a critical time”.
With her father from Barry in South Wales, she says rugby “has been a constant positive force in our lives”.
“I have a track record in positively shaping an organisation’s culture,” she said.
“I am an inclusive leader and I will do my utmost to promote belonging, trust, understanding and mutual support at all levels in Welsh rugby.”
Richard Collier-Keywood, the WRU’s chair, said hiring Ms Tierney was a “major coup for Welsh rugby”.
“Her mantra of ‘putting customers at the heart of everything we do’ bodes well for the many fans of rugby in Wales,” he added.
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Nigel Walker has been Acting CEO since January and will now take up a new role as director of rugby.
He said he looked forward to working with Ms Tierney “to secure a positive and sustainable future for Welsh rugby”.
He added: “There is still much hard work to do, but we will continue to progress together and I remain hugely optimistic about the future of our game.”
