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Cardiff Business Club appoints new Secretary: Paul Thorburn

One of the country’s largest and most established business groups has announced the appointment of former Neath RFC and Wales international rugby player, Paul Thorburn as Club Secretary.

Cardiff Business Club, one of the largest professional networking organisations outside London and with HRH Prince of Wales as its Patron, has made the appointment following the incumbent Secretary Guy Clarke OBE’s decision to step down after several years’ service to the Club.

Paul is perhaps best known for the longest successful kick in international test match history while playing for Wales in a Five Nations match against Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park in 1986. He played a key role in guiding Wales to third place in the World Cup the following year before retiring from the game in 1991 and becoming tournament director when the competition was held in Wales eight years later.

In 2006, Paul returned to his old stomping ground to head up the commercial division of what was now the Ospreys. Four years later, he left the rugby world altogether to establish his own consultancy business serving the insurance, legal and construction sectors.

Speaking about his new role, Paul said: “There are few organisations, if any, that have as great a profile and reach as Cardiff Business Club as testified by the high-quality speakers it has continued to attract over the years.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to not only be a part of an organisation I have long admired and one that is widely respected, but also to play a key role in shaping its future.

“The Club has an unrivalled history dating back over 100 years [1912], and over the last few years it has seen an increasingly diverse range of people attending its events, thanks largely to the great work that has been done by Guy [Clarke] and his team.

“I want to see how we can build on this gaining momentum and help to widen the Club’s appeal across the entire business community in Cardiff and particularly encourage younger people to come to our events, to listen and learn from speakers at the pinnacle of their careers.”

Scott Waddington, Chair of Cardiff Business Club and former Chief Executive of SA Brain, said: “We are delighted to welcome Paul to the Club and are particularly excited by some of the ideas he will be bring to the table.

“The Club has a long tradition that is matched in equal measure by its ambitions for the future. We very much look forward to working with Paul and using his experience to enable us to maximise the Club’s appeal with business leaders throughout the capital.

“Guy Clarke’s incredible contribution to the Club over the last few years cannot be understated. His tireless commitment and drive combined with an innate ability to attract so many of the most influential and recognised figures from the worlds of business, politics and sport to name a few, is an achievement in itself.

“He has done so much to open the Club up to a diverse demographic and with Paul’s ideas and shared vision, the next few years look set to be one of positive change and excitement for the Club and its members.”

Paul takes up the role of Club secretary with immediate effect.