World Rugby has announced the appointment of Louise Evans to the international federation’s newly confirmed Executive Board as an independent director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. 

The appointment follows confirmation of a new Board structure, featuring elected officers, independent directors and player representation. The Board is charged with directing an ambitious growth strategy focused on growing rugby’s share of attention by fan, commercial and women’s game growth, world-class events and breaking new markets.

Highly regarded in sports finance, risk and governance, Evans served as Group Finance Director at Williams Grand Prix Holdings, the parent company of the Williams Formula One team for a decade. More recently she has advised the Red Bull Technology Group on financial regulatory and governance matters in Formula One.

In addition to a wealth of experience in the fast-paced and fan-focused world of motorsport, Evans brings to World Rugby’s Board diverse Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair experience across a broad spectrum of leading global businesses (including AB Dynamics plc, Gooch & Housego plc and the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation), and will bring significant expertise to the new Board.

The appointment was made by World Rugby’s Nominations Committee following a robust global search and reflects the needs of a dynamic and transforming business running world-class events under the central purpose of growing rugby’s audience share by making it more relevant and accessible.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “I am delighted to welcome Louise to the Board as an independent director. As a highly respected finance and governance expert, Louise’s track record in F1 speaks for itself, while a diverse portfolio of Non-Executive Director roles will encourage a fresh and different way of approaching our ambitious growth strategy. Louise’s appointment within a new, dynamic and balanced Board will provide World Rugby and the sport more broadly with the highest standards of governance and leadership.”

Evans added: “I am very much looking forward to joining World Rugby’s Executive Board and contributing to the advancement of rugby as a growth sport, entertainment product and business. I hope to bring my perspective from working in other sports and the corporate environment to help unlock the tremendous opportunities for the sport on the road to USA Rugby World Cups and beyond.”

Evans joins Robinson, World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin, Susan Carty (Ireland), Jonathan Webb (England), Mark Alexander (South Africa), Bart Campbell (New Zealand), Sally Dennis (Canada), Herbert Mensah (Rugby Africa), the Independent EventsCo Chair and one additional independent (to be appointed following an independent recruitment process), Angela Ruggiero (independent), Rob Kearney and Melodie Robinson (International Rugby Players) on the Executive Board.