Ospreys announce major appointment of CEO Nick Garcia

The Ospreys can announce the major appointment of former City Football Group and Manchester City executive Nick Garcia as the Chief Executive of the regional rugby franchise.

Y11 Sports & Media, the new Ospreys owners, have underlined its global ambition with the recruitment of a leading management executive from outside rugby to take charge of the Ospreys.

The appointment of Nick Garcia, 45, is a bold statement of intent of the Ospreys ambition of being a global sporting brand and a leading rugby franchise.

Nick Garcia was part of the transformational team that led Manchester City’s expansion to City Football Group; a collection of football clubs around the world with shared playing philosophy, brand and commercial strategy. A model that has set the innovation benchmark for sports franchises globally.

The Ospreys Board conducted an extensive interview process to appoint a new CEO who has a track record for sports innovation and an ability to adapt to the changing sports environment.

Nick has a track record of driving sustainable success through operational efficiency and increased commercial revenue whilst building on the organisations culture and heritage, with the supporter at its core.

His appointment is part of the long-term strategy to place the Ospreys at the forefront of professional rugby and to drive the regional franchise to embrace the challenges ahead whilst capitalising on the changing rugby landscape.

He will work with the Board to devise and execute a global strategy to deliver on and off field success for the Ospreys, serving the community of supporter’s in Wales and beyond.

At CFG Nick had a remit across clubs in Manchester, New York, Melbourne and Yokohama, where he gained valuable insight into sport franchise operation and, most importantly, the value of club history and understanding its community of supporters.

He was then appointed Group CEO of Al Jazira Sports and Culture Club in Abu Dhabi, a leading football club in the U.A.E, where he led the turnaround of the club through a renewed vision using global best practice on and off the pitch to ensure sustainable success.

This major appointment will see Andrew Millward, the current managing director of the Ospreys, move to Chief Operating Officer, and charged with leading the rugby strategy with the RMB and PRO14.

Nick Garcia’s appointment follows Ospreys high calibre recruitment of Corin Palmer as Performance Director, and Toby Booth as Ospreys Head Coach. Garcia will be responsible for all areas of the Ospreys business and will report to the Board. He and his family will move to Swansea to start work on April 12th.

Nick Garcia, Ospreys Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Ospreys is a pillar of Welsh rugby and the community, with an impressive history of success and a reputation of innovating to deliver results. The ownership’s vision for the club and the changing rugby landscape makes this an exciting role. I’m truly honoured to have been chosen to lead the Ospreys in this next phase.”

James Davies-Yandle, Ospreys and Y11 Sports & Media owner said:

“Nick has a proven track record at the highest level in professional sport and has built an impressive reputation for innovation as an executive within elite sport.

“His role at CFG saw him devise, promote and deliver successful strategies to maximize the potential of a number of professional sporting organisations in many different markets around the world.

“This appointment is part of Y11’s strategy to place the Ospreys at the cutting edge of professional sport, while still respecting the rich history and culture that made it a success.

“His experience and expertise will prove invaluable as we build the next chapter of the Ospreys story. The Ospreys have been the standard bearers in Wales and never shied away from being innovative and of breaking new ground. Nick’s appointment, with his experience in professional football, is another example of that.

“Professional rugby faces many challenges due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and we believe we have appointed a CEO who is innovative and equipped to navigate the challenges ahead.

“Rugby has a rich potential and has hardly scratched the surface of that potential, but the Ospreys regional franchise intends to be at the forefront of leading professional rugby into the brave new world.”

Rob Davies, Ospreys Chairman, said: “There have been many challenges as a result of Covid-19 and they continue to impact us, and one consequence was the delay in implementation of the Plan envisaged at the time of the Y11 deal.

“With the outlook looking more positive, Nick’s appointment means we can now move forward. I would like to thank all supporters, sponsors, players and staff for their unwavering support for the Ospreys through this tough period for everybody.

“It is a privilege to be Chairman during this transformation and I look forward with enthusiasm and excitement to working with Nick to realise our vision.”