A leading Scottish sports facility has boosted its board with the appointment of two non-executive directors to strengthen its position as a world-class sporting venue.
Sheila Graham and Bob Ruddiman have been appointed to the board of Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV).
Established in 2009, Aberdeen Sports Village is the largest sporting facility in the North-east and is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading sports and fitness venues. A partnership between the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council and SportScotland, it has more than 7,500 members, welcomes around one million visitors every year, and employs more than 250 members of staff.
Sheila Graham, commercial leader at Shell’s Global Upstream Operated business, has over 25 years international experience across a variety of senior roles in oil and gas businesses.
She specialises in commercial management with strengths in people management and strategic planning. With a passion for sport, she has competed nationally in volleyball, is currently the team manager for the Girls North District Hockey U14 and U16s, a squad swimmer and has been a competitive diver for many years.
Bob Ruddiman, global head oil and gas at Pinsent Masons, has been an integral part in the growth of the law firm, supporting some significant developments over his 20 years at the international firm.
Bob is a regular speaker at industry events and is recognised as a leader in his field by Legal 500 and Chambers. As a former member of the University of Aberdeen operating board he has been involved from the outset of the ASV and Aquatics Centre planning and investment stages. Bob is a sporting enthusiast who enjoys running, cycling, golfing, rugby, skiing and hillwalking. His passion for sport continues through his family, who participate in various sporting activities at ASV.
Duncan Sinclair, ASV chief executive, said: “We are thrilled that both Sheila and Bob have chosen to join ASV as non-executive board members, which is vital as we continue to grow. Attracting members of this caliber into the business will strengthen our strategies and ambitions. Their strong knowledge and extensive experience will be invaluable in steering the future of ASV.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to grow further, as we play an active role in contributing to the local economy, both in terms of employment opportunities and the multi-million benefit of the events we host attracting visitors from all over the world, to experience our world-class facility.”
ASV, boasts a state-of-the-art gym, sports halls, indoor and outdoor athletics facilities, a range of exercise classes and indoor football pitches, as well as the Aquatics Centre, which includes an Olympic standard 50m pool and diving pool.