Two familiar behind the scenes faces have been handed new roles as the Ospreys continue to look to the future.
Paul Whapham has been appointed Business General Manager after four years heading up the Region’s community focused activity. He oversaw the creation and growth of Ospreys in the Community, from concept to reality, establishing it as Wales’ leading sporting charitable community foundation, impacting positively on the lives of almost 50,000 people across the Region each year.
He will now focus on overseeing day-to-day operations at the Liberty Stadium, working as part of the senior management team to put in place the systems and structures that will allow the business to achieve its short and long-term off-field strategic goals, evolving the business as more than just a rugby club.
In his place, Tom Sloane has been promoted to the position of Community Foundation Manager and will take responsibility for the continued growth and success of Ospreys in the Community.
Having served the Ospreys on and off the field for almost 12 years, as both player and Community Coach, Tom is one of the most recognisable members of staff at the Region, working with thousands of young children for more than a decade, inspiring a lifelong passion for rugby and the Ospreys, in the next generation.
Most recently, he has overseen the growth of the Ospreys in the Community education and rugby programmes as Community Programme Co-ordinator. He will lead on the development and growth of the Foundation with new and exciting projects and partnerships lined up.
In his new, wider role, Paul Whapham will continue to oversee the work of OitC, working with Trustees to support Tom and the team and further develop our One Community relationship with the WRU and Geraint John, Head of Community at the Union.
These internal appointments come just three months after the creation of a new look marketing and communications team, tasked with modernising how the business talks, and grows, it’s support base, on and offline.
Andrew Millward, Managing Director, Ospreys Rugby, said:
“The new roles for both Paul and Tom reflect not only their own personal growth but also the changing focus of the business moving forward.
“Ospreys in the Community are central to our long-term growth strategy and Paul and his team have done an outstanding job to build the foundation into the respected, market leading organisation that it is today. In their new roles, Paul can now bring that strategic focus to the main business, while Tom is well placed to step up and build on the work done to date by all involved with OitC.
“After an exciting end of season for the team, culminating in us securing a Champions Cup spot as Wales’ only representative, we are well placed now to kick on from here, on and off the field, using that success as a catalyst."