In a landmark decision, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is poised to name Abi Tierney as its inaugural female Chief Executive. This appointment follows a turbulent spell for the union, which grappled with allegations of sexism and misogyny earlier in the year.
Abi Tierney, formerly the Director General of the HM Passport Office and UK Visas and Immigration, will take over from Steve Phillips. Phillips stepped down in January 2023 in the wake of sexism allegations at the WRU, highlighted by a BBC Wales probe. Although Phillips was not directly implicated in the allegations, his departure signalled a significant reshuffle in the union's top brass.
Nigel Walker, who briefly assumed the Chief Executive role after Phillips' exit, has now been named the WRU's first Executive Director of Rugby. This is part of the WRU's wider reform initiative, which also saw Richard Collier-Keywood becoming the first independent chair, succeeding the elected leuan Evans.
Tierney boasts a distinguished career across various sectors. Prior to her role in the Civil Service, she served as the Business Development Director at Serco Health, steering the business towards growth. Her tenure at Serco also encompassed roles such as Regional Director and Chief Executive of Suffolk Community Services. Tierney has held directorial posts at University Hospitals of Leicester and Aberdeen City Council and was the marketing lead for IBM's global services division.
In June 2023, Tierney was appointed the Home Office Ethics Adviser. However, her time at the Passport Office wasn't without its challenges. Last year, she faced scrutiny for working from home during a spike in passport applications, a consequence of pandemic-induced travel restrictions. Despite the criticism, Home Office permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft stood by her, underscoring her unwavering commitment to serving the British public.
The WRU's choice to bring Tierney on board is viewed as a stride towards modernising its governance. Earlier this year, a report from a Senedd committee accused the union of "systemic failures in culture." The committee's findings indicated that the WRU had overlooked several chances to confront concerning behaviour within its structure.
With Tierney leading the charge, there are high hopes that her stewardship will herald a new era of positive transformation and advancement for Welsh rugby.
