Rugby Football League: Ian Nolan appointed new chief executive Rugby League News

Ian Nolan will be the new chief executive of the Rugby Football League.

Nolan will take up the role on October 1, following Tony Sutton who stepped down as RFL CEO in September along with Abi Ikoku and then, most recently, Rhodri Jones, managing director of RL Commercial, in the role on an interim basis.

Jones will remain in place until then.

Nolan, 44, served as a senior executive at Manchester United, leading the club’s global media network, before joining Science in Sport (SiS) as chief marketing officer.

RFL Chair and RL Commercial Chair Nigel Wood said: “We are delighted to welcome Ian to rugby league.

“Among a field of top-class candidates, he emerges as the best person to lead us forward at a crucial time for the sport.

“Ian’s expertise and vast experience in global, digital markets, including seven influential years at Manchester United, will complement what we already have within the RFL.

“With his fresh ideas and dynamism, this appointment is most significant as we turn the fortunes of the sport around and put revenues back on an upward trajectory after the last few years.”

He added: “We have a lot to be proud of here with the best ever Magic WKND a few days ago – a brilliant show attended by over 80,000 people – a phenomenon.

“Ian’s appointment is the first step in a bold and ambitious new strategy; he has a wealth of experience in the growth and commercialization of sports, media and sports rights, as well as an impressive track record of leveraging digital, social and modern media platforms to accelerate growth in global markets.”

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