St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom, November 2025 – The R&A has announced the appointment of Catherine Haynes as its new Chief People Officer (CPO). In her new role, Cat will lead all people-related activities in support of the organisation’s strategic goals and will serve as a key member of The R&A’s Executive Leadership Team, driving culture, leadership, and talent initiatives across the global golf body.
Cat joins The R&A from The Premier League, where she built a distinguished career over nearly 15 years in senior HR, people, and leadership roles, contributing significantly to shaping one of the most prestigious sports organisations in the world.
Before joining The R&A, Catherine Haynes served as Director of People at The Premier League, where she oversaw organisation-wide people strategy, leadership development, and culture transformation. During her tenure, she led key initiatives in inclusion, employee engagement, and workforce excellence, helping the league enhance its global reputation as an employer of choice in sport.
Earlier at The Premier League, she held several pivotal roles including Head of People, Head of HR, and HR Manager, where she implemented progressive HR practices that strengthened organisational resilience, employee wellbeing, and leadership capability. Over more than a decade, her work was instrumental in building high-performing teams and advancing diversity and inclusion within the sport.
Prior to her tenure at The Premier League, Catherine served as Operations Manager (Special Projects) at British Fencing, managing all operational aspects of the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP), and earlier as Olympic Operations Coordinator at the British Olympic Association, where she played an integral role in operational planning and team logistics for Team GB during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the European Youth Olympic Festival in Belgrade (2007).
Her early career began with IMG, where she worked as a Media Archive Intern, gaining foundational experience in sports marketing and media management. Catherine is also a Chartered Member of the CIPD (Chartered MCIPD) and a PRINCE2 Practitioner, reflecting her professional excellence and leadership in HR strategy and project management.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Catherine is an accomplished athlete — having completed multiple mountain marathons and triathlons, and is passionate about skiing, hockey, and golf, a sport she has loved since childhood.
Based in St Andrews, Scotland, The R&A governs the sport of golf worldwide (outside the United States and Mexico) and organises iconic championships such as The Open and the AIG Women’s Open. Acting on behalf of more than 61 million golfers in 145 countries, with the consent of 164 organisations from both amateur and professional golf, The R&A is dedicated to promoting the integrity, inclusivity, and sustainable growth of the game.
The R&A’s mission extends beyond governance—it is committed to supporting the development of the sport globally through investment in participation, sustainability, and innovation, ensuring that golf continues to thrive for generations to come.
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