New sportscotland chief executive announced

Friday 22 October 2004

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland announced today that Ian Taylor has been appointed as the new chief executive for the organisation following the departure of Ian Robson last July.

Ian Taylor will be best known to the sporting fraternity as the goalkeeper for the Great Britain Olympic hockey team, which won bronze in Los Angeles in 1984 and gold in Seoul in 1988.

As well as his understanding of elite sport, Ian brings a wealth of experience from the commercial sector with a strong sport and leisure bias. Originally practising as a PE teacher, Ian went on to hold a range of senior management roles with companies including En-Tout-Cas plc, Giant Bikes and H Young Holdings plc. Ian was Chief Executive of ISL Ltd, establishing the UK’s professional Ice Hockey Superleague and now joins sportscotland from his own management consultancy ICT Associates Ltd.

Ian has held a number of honorary roles within sports administration including Minister’s nominee on the Sports Council (with a UK remit), director of the GB Ice Hockey Board and a director of the British Olympic Association. He was also a commentator for BBC Sport between 1988-1996.

Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
“I welcome Ian Taylor to his post and look forward to working with him. sportscotland will be working with all the main stakeholders in Scottish sport to drive forward implementation of Sport 21, the strategy developed by and for those partners to shape Scotland’s sporting future - and Ian, along with his Chairman, will be key in ensuring its success.

“With Ian’s experience I believe we have the right person for the job and wish him every success in the coming months.”

Announcing the appointment Alastair Dempster said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone with Ian’s all round background and experience in sport and business. We are confident he will successfully lead the organisation, helping to address the range of challenges facing Scottish sport and physical activity.“

Ian Taylor said: “I am very excited to be joining the committed team at sportscotland, helping sport in Scotland to achieve its aspirations. There undoubtedly will be many challenges ahead as identified in Sport 21 and I look forward to working with partners to reach our shared objectives.”

Ian Taylor will take up his new role with immediate effect.