New faces added to Exeter board
Exeter Rugby Group’s vision for the future has today been handed a significant boost with the confirmation that two new faces are to join the club’s board of directors with immediate effect.
Experienced businessmen Brian Lodge and Nigel Hall have joined the club’s existing board, which is headed up by Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Rowe OBE, and also comprises Keiron Northcott, Alan Quantick, Ian Powell, Steve Byrne and Nick Beaton.
The new additions, both of whom are ardent Chiefs supporters, will not only bring a wealth of business acumen to the group, which recently converted to a Plc following the success of the Chiefs Bond 2020, but will also assist in helping further develop the commercial needs of the Aviva Premiership club and Sandy Park’s Conference and Banqueting complex.
With the first phase of the multi-million pound Sandy Park redevelopment set to start imminently, this latest announcement further underlines the club’s ambitions to become a significant force not only within the English game, but also that of European rugby too.
Likewise, enhancing the already impressive Sandy Park off-field experience is a major part of the club’s continual growth over the next few years.
The planned redevelopment works will not only help to further enhance the award-winning venue, but will also offer additional benefits to those who wish to make use of what will be the largest Banqueting and Conferencing Centre of its kind in the region.
Mr Hall, whose current commercial roles include being Chairman of Countrywide Farmers, as well as Non-Executive Director at both C & J Clark Limited and Michelmores LLP, arrives on the Chiefs board with a well-established and proven role in both plc and private companies.
With significant experience of the retail and property sector, Mr Hall has previously served as the Group Finance Director for Arcadia Group plc (formerly The Burton Group) and was a Non-Executive Director of Unite Group plc and Pinewood Shepperton plc.
Meanwhile, Mr Lodge, who is Group Engineering Director at the South West Communications Group, is accredited as both a PRINCE2 practitioner and IOSH Health & safety manager. He is also the Managing Director of HyTec Enamellers, which is based at Highbridge in Somerset and is the largest enamelling company in the United Kingdom.
Also a qualified yacht builder, Mr Lodge initially trained in London on the first telephone systems released under BT’s liberalisation in 1983 and then went on to become an expert in communication equipment, installation and configuration.
Welcoming the arrival of both men to the board, Mr Rowe said: “I am delighted to welcome both Brian and Nigel onto the board of Exeter Rugby Group. Both men, I know, are huge followers of the club and will bring a wide and detailed range of business knowledge to the table.
“As we look to develop Exeter Rugby Club even further over the coming years, it’s vital that we have people like Brian and Nigel firmly on board with us. I have no doubt they will add valuable input into the club’s future ambitions and will help us to expand our business greatly.”
Commenting on their new roles, Mr Lodge said: “Exeter Chiefs and Sandy Park are one of the South West’s truly great success stories and are a model of how the right combination of sport and business can prosper.
“I am looking forward to helping them build on those successes and achieve the high goals and aspirations that have been set for the future.”
Mr Hall added: “I am very excited about the opportunity to become part of the board at Exeter Rugby Club, which is charged with realising the full potential for the club and its associated enterprises over the coming years”
