The search process, led by the EPCR Chairman and with support from the EPCR Board, sought a candidate with proven leadership success and the relevant high-level experience necessary to accelerate the delivery of newly-established EPCR strategy. 

Frenchman Raynaud is a highly respected and experienced sports and media executive who has held Executive Vice-President roles within Sky Group for SKY Italia and SKY Deutschland and Managing Director for Sky Media as well Vice-Chairman of the Eurosport Group.  

Currently CEO of sportstech start-up, MyTVchain, Raynaud’s international business experience and background bring key expertise into EPCR for whom he will lead the delivery of the organisation’s ambitious strategy alongside the EPCR Executive and Board. 

EPCR Chairman, Dominic McKay, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jacques Raynaud as the new CEO of EPCR. He is an outstanding candidate in a very strong field who has been selected after a rigorous global search. 

“Jacques’ background, particularly within the multimedia and commercial environments, will enable EPCR’s Board and Leadership team to deliver against our key priorities in these areas. I very much look forward to working closely with Jacques to further develop our great tournaments, the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

“I would like to thank Anthony Lepage who has led the EPCR team extremely well in recent seasons delivering many new initiatives and putting the organisation on the right track to accelerate development.”

Raynaud added: “I am delighted to be joining EPCR at such an exciting time. I have been impressed by the Board's new strategy and vision for the tournaments and look forward to playing my part in delivering this with the team.

  “I am very much looking forward to working with the team at EPCR as well as all stakeholders and playing my part in enhancing the tournaments that form the very pinnacle of international club rugby.” 

Raynaud will join EPCR at the end of the season and will work closely with interim CEO Anthony Lepage, who will be moving to the position of Chief Operating Officer, in order to ensure a smooth transition.  

EPCR is pleased to announce that Jacques Raynaud has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss-based organiser of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments following an extensive and rigorous global search process.