Northampton Saints today announce the appointment of Mark Braid to the Club’s Board as a Non-Executive Director.
Braid, 49, has been a practising general common law barrister for 25 years, practicing in family law, immigration and civil litigation.
He also is a successful property developer, with a particular interest in the use of alternative energy sources, and manages a diverse portfolio of investments across property, pharmaceuticals, food development and biomedical research.
Braid joins Keith Barwell OBE, Nick Beal, Ella Bevan, Julia Chapman, Jon Drown, Colin Povey, Matt Smith, and Saints Chairman John White on the Club’s Board, with current Chief Executive Mark Darbon also set to remain as a Non-Executive Director when he leaves his post in November.
“Our Board is already filled with extremely capable Directors, and has proved time and time again over the last few years that it makes strong decisions at the right time to keep the Club moving forwards,” said John White.
“But we’re always looking to strengthen where we can, and so we’re absolutely delighted to welcome Mark Braid.
“He lives locally, has a huge passion for the Club, and understands our unique place within our community here in Northampton and beyond.”
John White, Chairman
“His family attends every match together and his wife, Caroline, an outstanding barrister, has also already delivered some brilliant CPD sessions with our staff, Academy and senior players.
“Mark brings with him a huge amount of legal and commercial expertise, so I have no doubt that his extensive experience will be extremely valuable to Saints over the coming years, and that he can make a massive contribution towards our future successes on and off the pitch.”
After studying at the University of Edinburgh (Economic History and Politics), City University (Graduate Diploma in Law) and City Law School (Bar Vocational Studies), Braid joined 2DRJ Barristers in London in 2000 and has been practising there ever since.
Braid also has built a successful property investment business, with projects including residential developments in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and London alongside commercial projects in Cambridgeshire and Essex.
“I’m very excited to join the Board at Northampton Saints,” said Braid. “The Club has a long history and is run extremely well already with a structure that has delivered stability and success allowing it to do the right things at the right time.
“It’s a real privilege for me to join now as a Non-Executive Director and try to help in any way I can. The Board is very strong, particularly on the financial side which is essential, but coming from a legal and non-rugby background I think I can bring something different to that group.”
Mark Braid
“With a young family who are keen rugby fans I also have a good insight into how the younger generation see the game and Saints in general, and how we might improve. I’m hoping to be able to give a different perspective where I can, be a good sounding board for the Club’s management, and I’m sure my commercial experience will help too.
“As a Scotsman I first started looking out for Saints’ scores back when Tom Smith and Budge Pountney were playing. Later in life and with a family I moved from London to the Midlands, and we were firmly bitten by the Saints bug after being taken to games by a close friend who is a lifelong Northampton supporter – we’ve now gone from attending the odd match at cinch Stadium, to eagerly coming along to every game with our friends and family.
“My wife, four daughters and I absolutely love the Club. Attending Saints matches together in recent years has become a very important family experience for all of us.
“There has been some negativity around the challenges facing rugby more broadly, particularly over the last few years, but we view it in completely opposite terms to that – the sport has fantastic values and wonderful people within it, and we’ve formed some amazing friendships as a result.
“Meanwhile the product on the pitch is of course sensational and we love the fact that the sport allows fans to watch a game that embraces extreme physicality. You have the opportunity to watch superb athletes at the peak of their powers and it makes for great viewing, whether you are there in person or at home watching on television.
“Learning about the business is important to me, and there’s so much headroom in professional rugby in England when you consider how many people watch the international game compared to how many then engage with Premiership clubs. The recent Premiership Final sold out quicker than ever before, clubs have to take confidence from that, continue to develop, and look towards the future. I’d like to be in position for the long term to help steer the Club forwards into an era of financial sustainability and continued success.”
