Veteran sports executive Doug Arnot has been named USA Rugby's first Chief Executive Officer.

Arnot's sports management experience includes some of the world's largest events. The Boston native directed the operations at the Olympics in Salt Lake City, managed venues and operations for Atlanta's Olympic Games and was part of the senior management team for the '94 Soccer World Cup hosted in the United States.

"USA Rugby has attracted a leader and a world-class sports administrator," noted USA Rugby's President Neal Brendel. "Doug is a seasoned sports professional with an entrepreneurial spirit who has fostered strong relationships within the Olympic movement and with its sponsors. His energy and experience will help grow the game of rugby in the United States."

Arnot, whose sports management career spans more than 20 years, officially assumes the Colorado Springs-based job on December 1st. USA Rugby's search for a CEO drew approximately 175 candidates including an array of sports professionals and business executives.

Arnot emerged as the unanimous choice of a search committee made up of USA Rugby Board members as well Brendel and National Team General Manager Jack Clark.

"It will be a genuine privilege to work with the thousands of volunteers at USA Rugby. Their extraordinary commitment has been the force behind the continuing growth of the game," Arnot said. "I look forward to increasing the game's profile within the U.S. sports scene with the help of rugby players across the nation, and assisting our national teams in enhancing their presence internationally.

Prior to his involvement with the Olympics and Soccer's World Cup, Arnot launched the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation and spent 10 years as Executive Director for the non-profit, sports education foundation. The former attorney went on to found the National Congress of State Games, and serve as the first President of the body which is responsible for developing state games throughout the United States.

At USA Rugby, Arnot will lead a head office in Colorado Springs, which is focused on membership services, technical programs and domestic events, as well as an office in Berkeley, CA. which manages the men's national team programs and commercial development projects for the rugby union.

The appointment of a Chief Executive Officer marks a milestone for USA Rugby as the governing body has previously worked under a model that relied on the organization's Board of Directors to make most management decisions.

"The sport, and the American rugby community's aspirations for the sport, have outgrown the volunteer model," noted Brendel. "A CEO will have rugby's interests as his primary professional focus, as well as the authority to act on behalf of our organization."