Los Angeles-based businessman Lyndon Faulkner has emerged as a serious rival contender for the role of Welsh Rugby Union chair.
The final interviews took place last week and, as exclusively revealed by WalesOnline recently, Harry Bowcott, a former senior partner at global consultancy giant McKinsey & Company, was one candidate interviewed.
WalesOnline understands Faulkner was the other candidate to emerge from the process and commands significant support from certain factions within the WRU, setting up a head-to-head contest with Bowcott.
Other candidates and interview panel
Also interviewed was the current chairman of Glamorgan Cricket and former investment banker Mark Rhydderch-Roberts, while former Harlequins director of rugby Mark Evans has also been mentioned.
The interviewing panel consisted of WRU board members John Manders, Alison Thorne, Amanda Bennett, Andrew Williams and Marianne Okland. President of the WRU, Terry Cobner, was also present in an observer capacity.
As part of the appointment process, interviews with shortlisted candidates were conducted at the Sport Wales office in Cardiff.
Faulkner's background and career
Faulkner hails from a council estate in Newport and was educated at Bassaleg Comprehensive School.
He also enjoyed a successful rugby career playing centre for Newport RFC and Pontypool RFC.
His business career has been spent largely in the United States and at the intersection of technology, manufacturing and international expansion.
He joined Nimbus CD International in 1987 and became its president and chief executive five years later, helping drive the company’s growth as CD and DVD technology transformed the entertainment industry.
Faulkner later became chief executive of Technicolor Digital Media Group before joining Microsoft, where he served as general manager of its Americas Operations Group and worked on major launches, including Xbox and Windows XP.
Pelican Products and the race ahead
In 2006 he took the helm of Pelican Products, the Los Angeles-based manufacturer of protective cases, lighting and temperature-controlled packaging.
Under Faulkner, the company pursued an aggressive strategy of acquisitions and international expansion.
One of his most significant deals came in 2008, when Pelican acquired rival Hardigg Industries in a transaction valued at $200 million, doubling the size of the business during the financial crisis.
The successful candidate will take on a huge role at a critical time and will oversee the implementation of the WRU board's plans to cut from four to three pro teams. It appears the new chair will have to adhere to the board's wish to go down to three teams.
WalesOnline understands that as things stand it is between Faulkner and Bowcott in the race to replace Richard Collier-Keywood as the WRU's new chair.
