Martyn Phillips, Hydrogen Group’s NED since 2006,  is to replace Roger Lewis as WRU chief.  Phillips, ex- CEO of B&Q was operations and HR director at B&Q before taking on the top role. Originally from Fishguard, he has strong personal links to the sport and has run leadership programmes at Aviva Premiership Clubs.

“Martyn was a client at Kingfisher when he became our NED.” says Ian Temple, CEO Hydrogen Group.  “I love to think I am a great talent spotter as at the time he was the level below HR Director. Over the next 10 years he rose to being HR Director and then CEO of B&Q, an incredible story and journey.”

When interviewed for HRMagazine, Phillips explained: “As HR director, I was responsible for employing a strong and diverse workforce, and so I have gained strong people and interpersonal skills, as well as being the best coach I can be to employees. A good sense of all aspects of the company’s operation is also a vital quality to have if making the move to CEO – they are all valuable skills which I have transferred to my new role as CEO at B&Q. The skills and abilities of a good HR director and those of a good CEO, they aren’t that different. Both must be able to shape an organisation and achieve profitability through leveraging the workforce. There is one big difference, however, between HR and CEO, which is the weight of the accountability. No matter how well prepared you think you are in HR, you are always one step removed from the real responsibility of your people. It is important to ensure you have a good understanding of the wider business by making a move laterally out of HR for a period of time, as I did, having made the move to operations director at B&Q before CEO.”

“There are a range of opportunities and challenges ahead for the game in Wales and my first task will be to listen and to understand the business of the governing body both internally and externally,” says Martyn.

“As a follower of Welsh rugby I know the landscape well and I am determined to make a positive difference in the years ahead, he added.