A campaign has been launched to find the leadership team for the "sustainable" 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Scottish executive search specialist Livingston James is spearheading the recruitment drive to fill pivotal roles including that of a chief executive (CEO), chief operating officer (COO), chief finance and corporate services officer (CFO).
The selected candidates will be responsible for shaping and executing a scaled-down, sustainable version of the Games, potentially setting a new standard for similar future events.
In addition to these roles, the search also seeks to appoint a chief information officer (CIO), chief marketing and communications officer (CMO), and several non-executive directors (NEDs).
These individuals will be instrumental in steering the biggest sporting event to be held in Scotland in a decade.
Glasgow was named as the host city for the 2026 Games, pending formal confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation, after the original host, Victoria, Australia, pulled out, due to cost concerns.
The move includes a £100 million compensation package ensuring that the Glasgow Games will not rely heavily on public funding.
The city, which successfully hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014, is renowned for staging large-scale international events, including the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023 and the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
It is anticipated that the 2026 Games will provide a significant boost to Glasgow's economy, a prospect welcomed by leaders in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Douglas Adam, a director at Livingston James, said: "This event will be one of the most important and innovative Commonwealth Games ever, and it will take a strong mix of leadership skills and experience to make them a success.
"We are looking for people who have experience of creating, running, and delivering major events on tight budgets, with strong logistical skills, and the creativity and vision to make an event of this magnitude happen in a shorter time frame than we’d normally see."
He acknowledged the challenging nature of the roles but suggested that they would attract top talent.
He added: "There is no shortage of candidates out there who will be up for delivering a Commonwealth Games that could set a blueprint for how events of this scale can be delivered successfully, sustainably, and economically in future."
He described the roles as suitable for candidates with a strong track record of innovation, quick delivery of large-scale events and operations, and a firm grasp on modern ESG requirements.
He said: "Their reward will be the opportunity to leave an indelible mark on the future of the Commonwealth Games, and to help propel Glasgow and Scotland even further into the global spotlight when it comes to hosting large-scale international events."
For more information on the roles, visit ljg-jobs.com/glasgow-2026-commonwealth-games/Livingston James.
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