So it’s an end of an era at Celtic with the news this morning that Peter Lawwell’s 17 year stint as the helm at Celtic is coming to an end come the conclusion of this season. And we have a new CEO appointed, the Scottish Rugby CEO Dominic McKay will take over and there will be new ideas and new optimism around the club.
McKay’s background is in Communications and Public Affairs whereas Peter Lawwell was an accountant by trade. Hopefully this is indicative of a new approach to Celtic’s dated communications operation which it is probably fair to say is 17 years out of touch.
McKay surely is going to be tasked with finding a new manager for the club. It is inconceivable that he’ll pitch up at Paradise and confirm that Neil Lennon is staying on with his backing. Indeed we’d expect to hear an update on this by close of business today.
A decision that Neil Lennon is also leaving at the end of the season will tie in with the plan to allow sweeping change at the club and there will now be a new structure to the football department with McKay unlikely to see himself as some sort of amateur Director of Football.
Here’s what the official Scottish Rugby website has been saying thus moving about the news that their Chief Operating Officer Dominic McKay is leaving to join Celtic as the CEO, replacing Peter Lawwell at the end of this season…
Dominic McKay To Leave Scottish Rugby
Scottish Rugby can confirm Chief Operating Officer Dominic McKay will leave the organisation this summer having accepted the role of Chief Executive of Celtic FC.
McKay leaves Scottish Rugby after 13 years having been appointed as Director of Communications & Public Affairs in January 2008, before taking on wider group responsibilities from 2011 and joining the Scottish Rugby Board as an Executive Director from 2013.
McKay became Chief Operating Officer in 2015 and has been responsible for the management of BT Murrayfield stadium as well as all commercial, marketing, ticketing and communications activity, alongside heading Scottish Rugby’s Threat Management Group in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has also overseen the commercial activities of Scotland’s two professional teams, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, and is currently Chair of the Guinness PRO14.
He leaves Scottish Rugby with the organisation’s thanks and very best wishes as he takes up one of the highest profile roles in Scottish and UK sport.
Dominic McKay said: “I can honestly say I have enjoyed the best 13 years of my life at Scottish Rugby and made life-long friends across the sport and all its numerous Unions, partners, broadcasters and sponsors.
“It has been a huge privilege to work with such a talented and passionate group of people over this time and I’d like to pay special thanks to Mark Dodson for his support, friendship and leadership.
“I am incredibly proud of the progress the organisation has made in recent years and hope I have contributed to the strong foundations now in place, which I believe will serve Scottish Rugby well in the future.
“Joining Celtic FC as Chief Executive is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a new challenge I am very excited about taking on later this year. I have been incredibly impressed with the vision and people within the club and I look forward to working with them.”
Congratulations Dom – welcome to paradise. May your driveway forever be clear of snow
— Tommy Doherty (@TommyDoherty) January 29, 2021
Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Mark Dodson said: “Firstly I’d like to congratulate Dom on securing this fantastic opportunity. Dom will leave with all our best wishes and he will always be a friend of Scottish Rugby and our sport. I have hugely enjoyed working with him and he has made a significant contribution to the progress we have made as a sport and organisation, including recently helping to bring significant private equity investment into the PRO14.
“While we are sad to see him go in the summer we wish him well at Celtic FC and are delighted he is staying in Scottish sport and look forward to our paths crossing again in the future.
“Scottish Rugby is currently entering into a period of strategic review that will see the organisation plan for its post Covid-19 future and I will reference this work to reflect the needs of the organisation ahead of any recruitment process.”
Scottish Rugby Chairman, John Jeffrey said: “I’d like to congratulate Dom on his new role. He has been instrumental in making Scottish Rugby a more attractive and viable commercial partner for a wide portfolio of sponsors and supporters, which in turn has helped us to increase investment across the game at all levels. Dominic has also worked to develop our positive relationship with the Scottish Government, which has been increasingly important during the pandemic.
“He can be proud of the legacy he will leave behind and we thank him wholeheartedly for his hard work and commitment to driving Scottish Rugby forward during his tenure.”
#CelticFC today announced that Chief Executive Peter Lawwell has decided to retire from his position at the end of June 2021, having held this role for the past 17 years.
Everyone at #CelticFC would like to thank Peter for his monumental contribution to the club's success. 🏆🍀
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 29, 2021
