Search begins for new Chief Executive

London, UK: The All England Club, Wimbledon, confirmed today that Ian Ritchie, its Chief Executive since 2005, is to leave the Club to become the new Chief Executive of the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Philip Brook, Chairman of the All England Club, said: “We will be sorry to lose Ian and in thanking him for his outstanding contribution to Wimbledon, we wish him every success at the RFU. The search for a successor will start in January and in the meantime it is very much business as usual at Wimbledon. The experience and professionalism of our team is such that we can look forward with complete confidence to maintaining Wimbledon as one of the world's leading sporting events.”

Ian Ritchie said: “The decision to leave the All England Club was a difficult one. I have been fortunate to work for a wonderful organisation and am extremely proud of what it has been achieved over the past few years. I know that Wimbledon will continue to go from strength to strength with its exceptional leadership and fantastic management and staff.”

Ritchie will join the RFU after fulfilling notice period obligations with the date to be confirmed later.

The Club is currently drawing up the process by which it will select a new Chief Executive and it is envisaged that the details of the process will be confirmed in the early to middle part of January. Potential applicants for the position are asked to wait until these details have been published before submitting an application.