Buttress stepping down from role as Dragons RFC chair
DAVID Buttress will step down as Dragons chair later this year after seven years in the role
The former Just Eat boss was appointed as chair in September 2017 after taking a minority stake in the Rodney Parade side.
Board member and co-owner David Wright will take over the role of chair from July 1.
Buttress, who was a key figure in the club being taken into private ownership last year, will remain on the board as a non-executive director and a major part of the ownership team. The step back from the role comes after Buttress was appointed as CEO of energy business Ovo earlier this year.
Speaking about his decision, Buttress said: “It’s been a great privilege to be Chairman over the last seven seasons, but taking into consideration my other new commitments, this is the right time for us to make this decision.
“I would stress to our supporters, players, and staff that my commitment and passion for rugby in Gwent and Dragons RFC remains as steadfast as ever and I will continue to be a passionate owner.
“It has been an enormously challenging, but also a rewarding role and I have loved nearly every minute of it!
“I will continue, as owner and board member, to push our club forward, build on what we have achieved in securing the club and Rodney Parade’s future, and map out a bright future alongside our incredible staff, players, coaches, and supporters.
“My congratulations to David Wright, I can think of no better person, as he leads us as our new Chairman and takes the club into the next exciting chapter of Welsh rugby.”
New chair Wright outlined his intentions to make the Dragons successful moving forward, saying: “It is a huge personal honour for me to take on the role and my thanks go to David for his unwavering commitment throughout his time as Chairman and the huge impact he has made on our club.
“We are working tirelessly to make sure that the Dragons are successful, on and off field, and I am confident that we will continue to drive change to set the club up to compete in the long-term.”
The club have also announced that interim CEO Graeme Bradbury will be stepping down at the end of the current season, with a successor to be announced in due course.
“Graeme was integral in bringing the current ownership group together and diligently worked alongside myself to ensure that we could achieve the goal of taking Dragons RFC back into private hands from WRU ownership,” added Buttress.
“Once the takeover was complete, Graeme was asked by the ownership group to steer Dragons RFC through to the end of the season, giving us the time to thoroughly assess the changes needed to make Dragons RFC a successful business.
“I would like to put on record my thanks to Graeme for his unstinting hard work, leadership and friendship over the last number of years, and wish him well for the future.”