RYA Scotland confirms new chief executive
Finlo Cottier is to become the new CEO of RYA Scotland. Following a recruitment process aided by the RYA and Sportscotland, Cottier will be leading Scotland’s national governing body for boating from May this year.
Originally from the Isle of Man, sailing brought Cottier to Scotland’s West Coast where he began work as an Arctic scientist, eventually becoming a professor at the Scottish Association of Marine Sciences (Sams) in Oban. During this time, he was an active volunteer as Commodore at Oban SC and as a deputy coxswain for the RNLI.
“I had often thought about making the move from sciences, and when the CEO role appeared, it seems too good to be true,” says Cottier. “The connection with the sea and sailing, supporting people and communities, and all with a fantastic staff and volunteer team, it was an ideal opportunity. As previously noted, it was sailing that brought me to Sams, so it is this passion around sailing which has taken me away.
“The recent RYA Scotland Strategy, People, Places and Communities, attracted me, specifically in how we can measure the impact and differences we are making, not just in numbers, but in the stories and narratives around the influence RYA Scotland has in getting people on the water safely across the country.”
Chair of RYA Scotland, Brian Wilson adds: “We received a very strong field of candidates for the chief executive role, which we were very impressed by and gave us some great options to take the organisation forward. Finlo is coming to us from the world of marine science, where he was a senior leader. While this is a big change, both for him and us, Finlo is not a stranger to RYA Scotland or our sport. We greatly value the fresh perspective that he will bring in enabling us to achieve our ambitions for the sport and wider activities across boating in Scotland. We very much look forward to working with him once he begins in March.”
As part of this transition, Robin Nicol is taking up the role of interim performance manager. His previous position as coach education and development manager will be run in the interim by Robyn Phillips.
In March 2023, MIN reported that the RYA had appointed professor Sir Michael Arthur, an experienced racing and cruising sailor and accomplished British academic, as the new chair of its board.
