Former Welsh international and Llanelli Scarlets star Rupert Moon recently put his burgeoning TV career to one side to join the Millennium Stadium’s commercial team and is now appointed as Head of Group Commercial & Business Development.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome on board two people of such high standing and illustrious pedigree in their respective fields,” said Stadium Chief Executive Paul Sergeant. “Gerry is extremely well respected in the world of health and safety and throughout the community.
“He held one of the top jobs in the South Wales Police force and brings a wealth of experience to us in many areas.
“He has been working with us as a safety officer on a match by match basis for a number of months already and has already proved to be a major asset, so it’s great news that we have been able to persuade him to come on board full time.
“Rupert is one of the most recognised faces in Wales and has been around sports and event management at the very highest level all of his working life.
“He brings with him tremendous business acumen and a wealth of experience in the industry. He has been working with the stadium on a part time basis for a few years and has already made an impressive impact, but we are very pleased to have finally persuaded him to join us on a permanent basis to look after all the WRU’s and Millennium Stadium’s commercial business.”
Mr Toms and Mr Moon are also joined by Laura Wilby the Millennium Stadium’s new communications officer. Ms Wilby joins the WRU Group communications team from Cardiff-based Vibe PR and has extensive agency public relations and event management experience gained primarily at the WRU’s affiliated communications agency Westgate PR.
The appointments come at a time when the Millennium Stadium’s busy event calendar is growing by the day.
“The final month of 2005 saw six major events come to the Stadium in the space of just four weeks, setting a new record for the multi-event facility,” said Mr Toms, who is a recent star of the small screen in the BBC murder investigation series-Crimesolver. “It’s an exciting time to be involved with Wales’ iconic, world-renowned, multi-event venue and I’m looking forward to a busy year ahead.”
Rupert Moon, who made a name for himself with the BBC consumer show X-Ray and also worked extensively on radio with Red Dragon FM and Real Radio since retiring from international rugby, says the Millennium Stadium is presenting him with his biggest challenge yet.
“We have built a young team of well-educated, enthusiastic and talented marketers at the Millennium Stadium since our chief executive Paul Sergeant first came on board,” added Mr Moon. “I have been impressed by Paul’s vision for the Stadium and the proof of what he is doing is there for all to see with all the success of recent events and just a glance at the packed event calendar for 2006 and beyond.
“I am impressed by what the Millennium Stadium has achieved already in the short time it has had, but most importantly inspired by the potential of what can be achieved in the future.
“We all have a role to play from Laura, who comes to us highly recommended and is charged with communicating the Millennium Stadium message to the public at large, to someone of the pedigree of Gerry Toms who is leading us from the front.”
Ms Wilby added, “I am thrilled to be part of the Millennium Stadium team at such an exciting and challenging time and I can’t wait to begin getting the message out there about this fantastic, versatile and iconic structure.”
