Phil Anderton
Phil Anderton (born 1965 or 1966)[1][2] is a Scottish business and marketing executive.
He was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Rugby Union in February 2004,[2] after several years of successful marketing within the SRU.[3] He was nicknamed "Firework Phil", because he provided lavish firework displays and entertainment before rugby games at Murrayfield Stadium.[3] These were criticised by Sir Clive Woodward as "more like a pop concert than a rugby match" after the Calcutta Cup game in Edinburgh in 2004, but Anderton was unrepentant on both counts.[3] Anderton resigned as CEO in January 2005 after David Mackay (Chairman of the SRU) was forced to resign by the SRU General Committee.[4]
From March 2005 to October 2005, he served as the Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League football club Hearts.[2] Anderton's dismissal as chief executive by majority owner Vladimir Romanov prompted Hearts chairman, George Foulkes, to resign in protest.[5] After leaving Hearts, Anderton was appointed chairman of the ATP World Tour Finals, the largest indoor tennis tournament in the world.[2] Anderton then served as chief executive of the Al-Jazira Club in Abu Dhabi, but resigned due to personal reasons.[6] In February 2013, he was appointed to the board of the political campaign group Better Together.[1][2]
Anderton holds a degree in Management and International Relations from the University of St Andrews.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Ex-Hearts chief Phil Anderton joins pro-UK group". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Phil Anderton joins Better Together team". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ a b c "Anderton demands change". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 24 February 2004. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ Reid, Alasdair (13 January 2005). "Anderton adds to SRU turmoil". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ "Hearts in turmoil as duo depart". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 October 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ Affleck, Kevin (2 November 2011). "Phil Anderton's departure 'no surprise' to Al Jazira". The National. Abu Dhabi Media. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ "Expect some fireworks when Phil gives speech". Edinburgh Evening News. 8 February 2006.