Peter Dawson to retire from R&A

The R&A has announced that Peter Dawson is to retire in September 2015 as chief executive of The R&A and as secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. He has been in the role for 16 years having succeeded Sir Michael Bonallack as Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1999.

In The Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s 250th anniversary year of 2004, Dawson oversaw the formation of a separate group of companies to run The Open Championship and conduct its governance responsibilities. The change enabled The R&A to focus on its governance role, running successful championships and supporting the growth of the game around the world and the Club to concentrate on catering for the needs of its more than 2,000 Members.

The R&A now works with 152 affiliated organisations from the amateur and professional game in 138 countries and jointly administers the Rules of Golf, the Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and the World Amateur Golf Ranking with the USGA.

Dawson became the Joint Secretary of the International Golf Federation in 1999 and was a key figure in securing golf’s return to the Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He was appointed president of the IGF in 2010 and the IGF Board has extended his term of office to 2016.

The recruitment of a successor will be handled by international executive search firm Spencer Stuart. Expressions of interest in the role should be sent to TheR&A@SpencerStuart.com