News

Posted: 02 May 2024

We wanted to provide an update on Board recruitment following three new Director appointments that have now been confirmed.  We also wish to provide some additional context about the steps that have been taken by the Board to ensure that strong governance has been maintained throughout this period.

This has been a period of intense change for the Scottish Rowing Board as unfortunate personal circumstances meant that several Directors, including the recently elected President, resigned from the Board in quick succession following the AGM in October.

It was agreed by the Board that longstanding Director Alistair Neill would step into the role of Acting President in order to preserve normal business until a new President could be formally elected at the next AGM in October 2024.

The Board wishes to put on record its thanks to Alistair for taking on this responsibility under challenging circumstances and to recognise his many years of service to Scottish Rowing as a key volunteer, including eight as a Director.

Taking the opportunity to ensure that the new Board composition would encompass a broad range of relevant skills and experience, we began a rigorous and transparent recruitment process.  Following completion of a skills matrix to assess current strengths and weaknesses across the team, three key roles were identified as a priority: Director (Finance), Director (Commercial) and Director (Safeguarding).

The roles were advertised widely on the Scottish Rowing website and social media as well as on key sport organisation websites, prompting a very healthy response.  Applicants were interviewed by a panel (supported by sportscotland) and both Finance and Commercial Directors have been successfully appointed.  Another candidate was deemed to have very useful skills and experience which could be of additional benefit to the Board and this person was co-opted as an Ordinary Director until they are able to stand for election at the AGM (as permitted within the Articles of Association).

There were no applications demonstrating sufficient safeguarding knowledge and experience to meet the criteria for the Director (Safeguarding) so this role will be readvertised.

We are delighted to have now appointed three new Board members with considerable, relevant expertise to complete the skills profile of the Board as a whole.  As of this week, we can now formally announce our three new Board members, who join the existing elected Directors Dorothy Roberts (Performance), Sophie McCall (Development), and Laura Graham (Coaching).

• Alastair Clarkson, Finance Director
• Jonny Logan, Commercial Director
• Robert Gordon, Ordinary Director [co-opted]

The appointment of a new CEO has been confirmed this week and will be announced shortly.  With the new CEO and enhanced Board in place we now begin a thorough review process of Scottish Rowing’s policies, procedures and practices to ensure they are still relevant and appropriate in a rapidly evolving industry.

We are confident and optimistic about the impact of the changes to personnel at both operational and Board level and we are, as a full and cohesive team, committed to elevating both our sport governance and our strategic planning as we enter the next cycle.

If you have any questions, please email office@scottish-rowing.org.uk.

Issued on behalf of the Board of Directors, Scottish Rowing.

Meet the New Directors

Alastair Clarkson

Learning to row on the Union Canal in Edinburgh, Alastair rowed as a junior in Scotland in the late 1970s and early 1980s before continuing to row throughout his time at University.  He now has a daughter who is a passionate rower, which has reminded him of the physical and mental benefits from rowing, and does some coaching back at his University.

Alastair spent his Executive career in various senior leadership roles in Finance and Risk within the financial services industry.  He is an experienced Non-Executive Director, sitting on the Boards of 3 insurance companies, chairing the Audit Committees of 2 of these and sitting on the Risk committees of all three.  In addition to this he sits on the Board of Venture Trust, a third sector charity.

Jonny Logan

Jonny Logan began his involvement with Scottish Rowing in 1994, as a J12 rower for George Watson's College, in Edinburgh. Over the next 18 years he competed for Glasgow University, Clyde ARC, Glasgow RC, Marlow Rowing Club and Leander Club, ultimately winning 5 Commonwealth gold medals for Scotland, as well as 7 Home International and 8 British Championship titles across various boat classes.

Jonny holds a masters degree in Naval Architecture from Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities and has worked for the international offshore engineering and consultancy company, Global Maritime, since 2012. In 2019 he was appointed Chief Executive of Global Maritime Group and has since been responsible for the entire global business, comprising 5 main service areas, delivered by over 300 personnel in 23 offices across 18 different countries.

Jonny is delighted to be given the chance to join the Board of Scottish Rowing and to have the opportunity to give something back to the sport that he feels has given him so much.

Robert Gordon

Robert Gordon is the current President of Inverness Rowing Club, where he has been a club member for approximately 10 years and a board member for the last 8 years. As well as regular outings in the pair on the Caledonian Canal, Robert enjoys walking and cycling.

Robert spent over 30 years working in the logistics sector as a director and owner of JBT Distribution, selling the business in June 2021.
Robert is married to Avril and has two daughters Heather and Louise.