Mike Miller is set to part company with the sport's governing body after 10 years © Getty Images

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News: IRB chief Miller to step down

Players/Officials: Mike Miller

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has moved swiftly to fill the void that will be left by chief executive Mike Miller who is set to step down from his role at the end of the month.

Chief financial officer Robert Brophy has been appointed acting chief executive and will also become acting managing director of Rugby World Cup Limited - the other role Miller has fulfilled with distinction for the best part of a decade.

Appointed by the executive committee, Irishman Brophy will take up his new position on February 1 to continue to drive forward the IRB's core business while a thorough independent recruitment process for a permanent successor to Miller is conducted.

Miller is stepping down on January 31 having overseen three massively successful Rugby World Cups, the re-inclusion of Rugby into the Olympics, the growth of the HSBC Sevens World Series and the creation of the IRB's Strategic Investment Programme and Union Fund which have seen an increase in funding to Tier 1 and Tier 2 Unions and emerging major market countries.

Brophy has served as the IRB's CFO since 1996 and previously worked for KPMG and Diageo UK. A passionate rugby man, he also represented Trinity College and Leinster at age grade during his playing days.

Bernard Lapasset, recently re-elected as IRB chairman, is confident Brophy can steer the organisation through a period of transition. "I am delighted that Robert has accepted the role of acting chief executive of the IRB and acting managing director of Rugby World Cup Limited," he said in a statement. "He has a massive wealth of experience in the organisation and global Rugby governance and is highly respected by the staff. I have every confidence that Robert will provide the continuity, stability and leadership required until a new permanent Chief Executive takes office."

Brophy added: "It is an enormous privilege to be given this opportunity by the IRB Executive Committee. We have an excellent management team and I am looking forward to working with Bernard and Vice Chairman Oregan Hoskins to continue to drive the Game forward."

A thorough process to appoint a permanent chief executive will begin immediately with the IRB to select a leading global recruitment company.