Background to Modernisation

In mid-2006 the British Wrestling Association (BWA) embarked upon a modernisation process that would move away from a traditional Council of elected members towards a structured governance model of competency-based Officers.

A new set of Articles of Association was drawn up by a steering committee, and unanimously agreed at the BWA’s Annual General Meeting in September 2008.

It was agreed that the new BWA Board would comprise the following:

Chair; Chief Executive Officer; Performance Director; Chair, Nations & Regions
Committee; Nations & Regions Directors (Nominees 1 and 2); Non-Executive Directors x3 (Finance; PR& Communications; Commercial)

Following the AGM, the process of appointments to the new BWA Board began. In January 2009, Malcolm Morley was successful at interview to take the role of BWA Chairman, followed by the interview and appointment of two Non-Executive Directors, Gregor McNeil (Finance) and Peter Jones (PR & Communications). In February, they were joined by the Chief Executive, Colin Nicholson.
During April 2009, each Nation and Region voted representatives to serve on the new Nations & Regions Committee: Gerry Malone (Scotland); Barry Pollin (Northern Ireland); Balsingh Matharu (Wales); Roy Wood (England-Northern); Trevor Hoskins (England-Midlands); Mansoor Eslami (England-Southern).

Where are we up to

In May 2009, The Nations & Regions Committee held its first meeting to nominate a Chairman and two others (Nominee1 and Nominee2) to serve as Directors on the BWA Board. The new Articles of Association require ratification of the three nominations by The Board.

The Nations & Regions Committee meeting was a charged affair, with several tied votes.  Following the meeting, half the members wrote letters of complaint to the BWA Chairman and legal advice was sought for clarification.

The Board ratification process took place on 17 July by telecon with agenda items covering the Nations & Regions nominations and due process for subsequent Nations & Regions Committee nominations. Gerry Malone was ratified as Chairman, Nations & Regions Committee. However, Barry Pollin and Roy Wood were not ratified. Non-ratification was not related to their qualities as individuals, or whom they represented on the Nations & Regions
Committee. It appeared, in the eyes of The Board, that the process as a whole (of nominating Nominee1 and Nominee2) was unsatisfactory, thus necessitating in the re-run of the process.

What next

The Nations & Regions Committee will be meeting again, shortly, to go through a nomination process; this time following the more detailed guidance agreed at the 17 July Board Meeting.  The Nations & Regions Committee’s nominees will then go to a meeting of The Board to be ratified.

Colin Nicholson

• Members’ Update on Modernisation Process (0.03MB)