Open arms: Stewart Regan is ready to embrace the challenges ahead as the SFA's new chief executive. Pic: ©SNS Group
Former English Football League director Stewart Regan has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Scottish Football Association. The 46-year-old follows Gordon Smith into the job, three months after the former player and broadcaster stood down.
Regan leaves his post as chief executive of Yorkshire County Cricket Club to take up the job at Hampden, returning to football after a four year absence. Regan was the man responsible for the successful re-branding of the Football League’s three divisions, changing the names to the Championship, League One and League Two respectively.
Prior to his time in football, he spent 16 years in the brewing industry, working as strategic planning director for Bass and Coors.
“From my recent posts with the Football League and Coors Brewers, I have experience of working with a number of key stakeholders in Scottish football,” Regan said ahead of his unveiling at Hampden on Wednesday afternoon.
“Scottish football has not been immune to the difficulties of the current financial climate but the passion and commitment to the national game in this country remains unrivalled. It is this loyalty and dedication that will be essential to re-establishing the game.
“I am aware there is a great debate on the way forward for Scottish football and it is my intention to bring all the relevant parties closer together to achieve the obvious common goal of improving the overall standard of the number one sport in this country.”
SFA president George Peat added: “Of all the applicants, Stewart stood out for the level of his success in business and sport but also for his diversity of experience.”
Regan will begin work with the SFA on October 5, with Colin Graves fulfilling his duties at Yorkshire when the new figurehead of Scottish football stands down from his current post.
