Rugby: Neil Hitchen (City Football Group), CFO of World Rugby from September 2023

Neil Hitchen (ENG) will join World Rugby as chief financial officer from September 2023, announced the International Rugby Federation on 09/08/2023.

The current finance director for City Football Group's international activities (since 2017) will replace Robert Brophy, who was at World Rugby between 1997 and June 2023. Prior to joining the holding company of Manchester City FC (Premier League), Neil Hitchen had a career in the entertainment industry, particularly in music, working at the independent label Factory Records, before moving into the media and film sectors, at twofour54 Abu Dhabi, ITV and Virgin Media respectively.

As chief financial officer, Neil Hitchen will be responsible for World Rugby's "finance, risk, business transformation, people and culture, legal, communications and technology under chief operating officer Charlotte Samuelson," explained the body. Hitchen will also be responsible for "the overall management of World Rugby's EventsCo" which is dedicated to the organisation of rugby competitions.

"The appointment reflects World Rugby's ongoing business…