Institute of Groundsmanship appoints Geoff Webb as new Chief Executive

Institute of Groundsmanship appoints Geoff Webb as new Chief Executive

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), the only membership organisation representing the whole of the grounds management industry, has announced that Geoff Webb has been appointed chief executive, effective 7 November 2005.

Formerly Head of Grass Roots then Director of Facility & Stadia Development at the Football Foundation, and before that Head of Major Projects at the Lawn Tennis Association, 43-year-old Geoff brings to the IOG a high level of organisational and leadership skills at, he says, an exciting period in the history of the Institute and the industry it serves.

At the Football Foundation (the UK's largest sports charity) Geoff was responsible for developing the grass roots facilities and football stadia grant aid programme, managing an annual budget of £52 million. Prior to this, he had progressed at the Lawn Tennis Association to the position of Head of Major Projects with responsibility for the highly-regarded Indoor Tennis Initiative that developed 43 indoor pay and play centres across the UK.

He has therefore developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in facility, sport development and grounds maintenance, as well as a thorough understanding of the issues affecting the UK sport leisure and charity sector.

A keen supporter of the work of the IOG and the need for the profile of groundsmanship to be raised, Geoff comments: "During my tenure at the Football Foundation I utilised every opportunity to make the governing bodies and Government aware of this vital component of the sports industry.

"I have worked at senior level across football and tennis to ensure that opportunities through training, education and awareness were available to anyone with an interest in grass roots sport grounds maintenance," he says.

"I have a very positive and supportive view of the role and the profile of groundsmanship and, through the work of the IOG much is being done to enhance the reputation of this greatly needed and skilled profession.

"In my new role I relish the opportunity to help further raise the profile of groundsmanship in the UK."