Lyndon Faulkner, the Newport-born CEO of Pelican and nephew of legendary Wales prop Charlie, has been confirmed as the Welsh Rugby Union's new chair. He will take over the role vacated by Richard Collier-Keywood at the WRU's annual general meeting next month.
It is over 40 years since Faulkner helped Pontypool beat Swansea in the 1983 Schweppes Cup final. Two years later, the classy centre's career was cut short by injury. Rugby's loss was the business world's gain, with Faulkner establishing himself as one of the most successful CEOs in the USA.
Challenges ahead for new chair
He takes on the role at a tumultuous time, with the WRU planning to cut either the Ospreys or Scarlets by 2028. It is not an easy task for the former Newport and Pontypool player, trying to sell Welsh rugby on an unpopular reduction in teams.
But then neither was convincing the music industry in Britain to switch from cassette to CD and DVD technology, or floating Nimbus on the world's second-largest stock exchange market. Faulkner managed all of that, leaning on the lessons of the mastermind behind Pontypool's mean machine, Ray Prosser.
Lessons from rugby
“I learned so much from Pross and it has guided me at times during my business career,” he previously told the Rugby Paper. “How to treat people, how to communicate, how to relentlessly chase and plan for success and how to deal with rare defeats and setbacks.
“He always trusted you to get on with the job, another big lesson. When it came to floating a NASDAQ company in the States I had no expertise whatsoever in that field and it was pretty scary. So I did a Pross. Identify the talent you need, hire the right people, enthuse them with your vision and then just let them perform.
“Teamwork was everything at Pooler. Everybody on the same page working for the one pre-determined goal. Clear-cut concise communication, dedication to the cause and tenacity, a willingness to undertake the long haul. That’s all stuff I took from rugby and Pooler. We were amateurs but took great pride in our physical fitness – we were fitter than any other side in Britain – which gave us supreme self-confidence.
“When I had to retire I spent the first year afterwards trying to sell the idea of CDs to record companies, a totally alien role because I was an engineer by training. For a while it was difficult, banging my head against a brick wall, but I still carried that self-confidence from Pooler days into my new job. I still believed if I worked hard enough ‘victory’ would come. And victory did finally come when our CDs appeared on Tomorrow’s World with Raymond Baxter. After that it took off.”
From Newport to the USA
Faulkner's life started with humble beginnings, growing up in a council house in Newport with his mother, secretary Olga, and father, former lorry driver and Whiteheads steelworks employee Ivor – all a far cry from the large Los Angeles home he would one day end up in. “It’s down to hard work. When you come from more humble beginnings you strive to do better,” he said.
Faulkner attended Bassaleg Comprehensive School in Newport, playing for Newport Youth. He would then feature in midfield for their senior side, as well as Pontypool when they were one of Wales' leading teams, being a stalwart of the side that lost just two of their 50 games in 1983/84. He would also play against the touring Australia in 1981 and 1984.
Having held a senior role with Technicolour/Nimbus CD, he moved stateside in 1988 when the company began expanding overseas. He was soon head-hunted by Bill Gates and Microsoft, with Faulkner overseeing the introduction of world leading brands Windows, Windows Vista, Microsoft Office and XBox while there. In recent years, he has also held senior roles with Pelican Products and Peli Biothermal, while he also appeared on US TV series 'The Mentor'.
However, he has previously told of how Wales has remained close to his heart while being the other side of the Atlantic. Willingly stepping back into the mad world of Welsh rugby is perhaps a strong indication of just how much affection he still holds for his homeland.
