Gavin Marshall to leave Bristol Sport.

Bristol Sport can confirm that Chief Executive Officer Gavin Marshall will step down at the end of next month to take up a new role with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Marshall joined the Bristol Sport Group as Chief Financial Officer in 2016, was appointed to the Bristol City, Bristol Bears and Bristol Flyers boards in 2017 before transitioning to Group CEO in the summer of 2022.

As a particular advocate for women’s sport, he has been Chair of Bristol City Women since the Covid-19 pandemic alongside his directorship of Bears Women, with both teams undergoing dramatic transformation during his tenure. Notably, he has helped Bears Women secure a franchise in the new Professional Women’s Rugby league; City Women adopting Ashton Gate as their home ground, along with both women’s sides moving into the clubs’ respective High Performance Centres; and last week completing on the sale of a majority stake in Bristol City Women to Mercury13.

Commenting on his move to WRU, Marshall said: “It has been a privilege to be part of the Lansdown family’s sporting group. For almost a decade I have lived and breathed our multi-sport offering, and I am proud to have played a part in helping drive record growth across all five sports teams during that time. As ever, it’s the people that you miss when you move on, and this is particularly true of the amazing team that I’ve been proud to work alongside.

“Being a Welshman raised in Pembrokeshire, the opportunity to work for the WRU is a dream come true for me.”

Bristol Sport founder and owner Steve Lansdown CBE said: “I’d like to thank Gavin for all his hard work and commitment over the last decade.

“Gavin has been a pivotal part in our success, from stepping into lead the Bears as interim CEO for the last three years, driving increased attendance across all five teams and of course, the investment of Mercury13 into our women’s football – all have been major milestones which we should be proud of.

“It is understandable that Gavin wants a new challenge and the opportunity of working with his native rugby union is a great opportunity. He goes with our thanks, and we look forward to working with him in his new role based at the Principality Stadium in the future.”