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Geoff Wightman has been appointed as the first ever Managing Director of British Road Running on behalf of UKA and the four home nation governing bodies.
Wightman, who will step down as CEO of scottishathletics in the New Year, will be charged with developing and professionalising the successes of the Run Britain project – which he has chaired since 2008 – providing insurance, race permits, lowest cost race entry and technical support to Britain's road race organisers. He will also be responsible for developing commercial income streams to reinvest into the road running community.
UKA Chief Executive Niels de Vos commented: “We are delighted that Geoff has committed himself to this role which will lead athletics policy globally, and a role to which Geoff is uniquely suited. Geoff has road racing in his blood, is an experienced event organiser and marketeer, and is known to hundreds of thousands of runners through his finish line commentary at events across the globe.
“Road running and racing represents perhaps 70% of all club members in the UK plus millions more who are not formally part of the sport. It is essential that the governing body now invests in providing the best possible support services to allow road running to continue to grow.
Wightman, who will join UKA in the New Year said: “It has been an honour for me to work as CEO of scottishathletics, but road running has been a big part of my life since I was 14 and this opportunity was too good to miss. I am well aware of the challenges faced in road running throughout the UK and look forward to playing my part in ushering in a golden era for that branch of our sport from 2010."