DOMINIC McKay, the chief operating officer of the Scottish Rugby Union, today announced he is “very excited” about the “once in a lifetime opportunity” to take over at Celtic.

Scottish Rugby this morning confirmed that chief operating officer McKay will leave the organisation this summer having accepted the role of chief executive of Celtic.

McKay leaves Scottish Rugby after 13 years having been appointed as director of communications and public affairs in January 2008, before taking on wider group responsibilities from 2011 and joining the Scottish Rugby board as an executive director from 2013.

McKay became chief operating officer in 2015 and has been responsible for the management of BT Murrayfield stadium as well as all commercial, marketing, ticketing and communications activity, alongside heading Scottish Rugby’s Threat Management Group in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has also overseen the commercial activities of Scotland’s two professional teams, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, and is currently Chair of the Guinness PRO14.

McKay said: “I can honestly say I have enjoyed the best 13 years of my life at Scottish Rugby and made life-long friends across the sport and all its numerous Unions, partners, broadcasters and sponsors.

“It has been a huge privilege to work with such a talented and passionate group of people over this time and I’d like to pay special thanks to Mark Dodson for his support, friendship and leadership.

“Joining Celtic FC as chief executive is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a new challenge I am very excited about taking on later this year. I have been incredibly impressed with the vision and people within the club and I look forward to working with them.”

Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said: “Firstly I’d like to congratulate Dom on securing this fantastic opportunity.

“Dom will leave with all our best wishes and he will always be a friend of Scottish Rugby and our sport. I have hugely enjoyed working with him and he has made a significant contribution to the progress we have made as a sport and organisation, including recently helping to bring significant private equity investment into the PRO14.

“While we are sad to see him go in the summer we wish him well at Celtic FC and are delighted he is staying in Scottish sport and look forward to our paths crossing again in the future.

“Scottish Rugby is currently entering into a period of strategic review that will see the organisation plan for its post Covid-19 future and I will reference this work to reflect the needs of the organisation ahead of any recruitment process.”

Scottish Rugby chairman John Jeffrey said: “I’d like to congratulate Dom on his new role. He has been instrumental in making Scottish Rugby a more attractive and viable commercial partner for a wide portfolio of sponsors and supporters, which in turn has helped us to increase investment across the game at all levels.

“Dominic has also worked to develop our positive relationship with the Scottish Government, which has been increasingly important during the pandemic.

“He can be proud of the legacy he will leave behind and we thank him wholeheartedly for his hard work and commitment to driving Scottish Rugby forward during his tenure.”