THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON

THE SRU yesterday revealed their latest non-executive director and immediately insisted that his connections with the chairman's club were not a factor in his appointment.

Graeme Millar is currently a non-executive director of the Food Standards Agency for Great Britain, chairing their audit committee, and is a member of the Audit Committee Institute. He is also a non-executive director of the Dunfermline Building Society and the current chairman of the finance committee at Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools.

Allan Munro, the current executive board chairman, led the interviews for a new director along with Archie Ferguson, an elected representative on the Scottish Rugby Council. Munro is also the executive chairman of Stewart's Melville's rugby club, while Millar fills the gap left by the retirement of Fred McLeod, the former Stewart's Melville bursar.

Munro insisted, however, that Millar, a 51-year-old pharmacist, was brought in specifically to chair the SRU's audit committee and help determine how to address a £23m debt and continuing annual losses, and not because of any old school tie links.

He said: "Gordon McKie, the [SRU] chief executive, Andy Irvine, our president, and myself as chairman are all confident that Graeme Millar will bring a wealth of public and private sector experience and skills to the executive board.

"Under our new governance system established last year, the board makes all the important decisions for the sport, so our priority was to seek out the very best person. A candidate's postcode or rugby club allegiance simply is not relevant. Finding the most appropriate candidate is what counts."

Millar has a lengthy record of public and private sector involvement, including the chairmanship of the Scottish Consumer Council from 2000 to 2006, vice-chairmanship of the Lothian Health Board from 1991-1993 and vice-chairmanship of Quality Meat Scotland from 2003 until 2005. He was awarded a CBE for services to consumers earlier this year.

The SRU stated: "The [SRU] sought a candidate with considerable non-executive experience in both the public and private sectors. Millar fulfilled all criteria and was selected out of an exceptionally strong field."

Millar, who is married with three children and lives in Edinburgh, commented: "I've watched with interest this past year and noted how Scottish Rugby has taken huge strides, changed its governance system and made the sport much more accountable. A lot has been done in a short space of time. I am looking forward to joining the Executive Board and playing a constructive part in the sport's future."

This article was posted on 2-Sep-2006, 07:19 by Hugh Barrow.