Phil Braden appointed chief executive of RYA Cymru/Wales

Phil Braden appointed chief executive of RYA Cymru/Wales © WYA

An international businessman and club commodore has taken the helm of Welsh sailing, looking forward to combining that top level of business expertise with his passion for the sport.

Llandudno sailing club commodore Phil Braden has travelled the world as a media and telecoms executive, so he is delighted to be able to drive to work now as he aims to take one of Wales's most successful sports forwards as chief executive of RYA Cymru/Wales.

"I have been sailing since I was knee high to a grasshopper, so when the opportunity came up to turn my hobby into a job I went for it," he explained.

"I have spent the last 25-30 years sitting on a plane, so driving to and from work is great rather than using my house as a hotel."

Braden was originally an electronics engineer in the telecoms and Media industries – in 2008 he was voted one of the 50 most influential persons in European Media by Cable & Satellite Magazine.

He has been a chief level officer for various companies in the UK, Hong Kong, the United States, the Middle East, Italy and the Netherlands, but for much of that time he has kept a base in North Wales and been a keen sailor.

"My wife is from North Wales, my kids go to a Welsh school and speak Welsh, so I have strong roots up here even though I am a Londoner," said Braden, who will be based at the National Watersports Centre at Plas Menai in North Wales.

"I am commodore of Llandudno sailing club as well, so I love getting out on the waters of Llandudno Bay.

"I have been a customer of the RYA Cymru/Wales, if you like, looking for help at the club as we developed OnBoard, Push the Boat Out, became a registered training centre and we are about to become a Champion Club.

"I am just coming into RYA Cymru/Wales, but I am looking to carry on the good work of my predecessors.

"Some of the obvious areas are OnBoard, giving children the chance to try sailing. That is when I started to sail and at Llandudno we embraced OnBoard, taking sailing to our local schools.

"When we took the children out on the water for a day's sailing the look on their faces was beautiful to see, so I am passionate about pushing OnBoard in this new role.

"We are also completely on board with the Sport Wales policy of a Nation of Champions, developing the top level sailors of the future.

"That is important but I think it is also important not to forget the people who just go out in a boat to have some fun, we need to promote that as well as the pathway side of things.

"My career path has been very different to a governing body, I have a lot of management experience but I think will be the most useful part is the fact I have been involved in the club system for a very, very long time in England and Wales.

"Sailing in Wales punches above its weight. We have a lot of great people, but we also have great sailing clubs and great places to sail."

www.ryacymruwales.org.uk