An Edinburgh season ticket holder has landed his dream job as club managing director

Champions Cup quarter-finalists Edinburgh have appointed a long-time season ticket holder to succeed Jon Petrie as the club’s managing director.

Former Scotland international Petrie ditched the capital city outfit last October in favour of the chief executive’s role at Ulster, where he replaced Shane Logan who had overseen the terrible on- and off-field campaign of 2017/18.  

Five months later, Edinburgh have finally identified Petrie’s successor, giving the role to Douglas Struth, the Scottish Rugby Union’s head of legal who has been a season ticket holder at the club for quite some time. 

“It’s a real privilege to be appointed managing director of Edinburgh Rugby. As a long-time season ticket member I care passionately about the club and have done for many years.

“Through my current role, I have developed first-hand knowledge of the club and a real understanding of what its objectives are and what it wants to progress from a business, stakeholder and operations perspective.

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“I now look forward to applying all of that as managing director and working with our supporters, partners and the whole team at Edinburgh Rugby to build on what has been achieved so far and to take the club forward. I cannot wait to get started.”

Scottish Rugby’s head of retail and licensing, Craig Docherty, has been in interim charge during the recruitment period and will continue in the role until Struth comes into post at the end of the season.

Scottish Rugby’s chief pperating officer, Dominic McKay, said: “We wanted someone who understood the important role of the club in the city and how, working with Scottish Rugby, we could continue building on the proactive work currently underway.

“Having worked closely with Doug, I know he is passionate about rugby in Edinburgh and it is a positive step to have someone develop within the organisation to the extent that this role is now one they are well equipped to step into.

“Edinburgh Rugby is at an exciting point in its history, reaching the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals and progressing well off the field. There is a good, dynamic team in place and I’d like to thank Craig Docherty for managing the club so well over recent months. I’m confident Doug will continue this progression of the club in the Managing Director role.”

Originally from Edinburgh, Struth has been leading Scottish Rugby’s internal legal department and is secretary to the Scottish Rugby Council.

He has worked across all areas of the organisation, including working with Edinburgh Rugby on sponsorship, player contracting, ticketing, broadcast, retail, media and marketing matters. He has also been involved in supporting the delivery of Edinburgh Rugby’s new stadium development project.