The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) has appointed Chartered Fellow and ukactive CEO David Stalker to chair the organisation.

Stalker will hold the post for a year and continue to support the organisation’s transition in line with the business plan approved by members in November 2013. Stalker will also lead the recruitment of a full-time CEO to build on the work of the transitional team currently in place, headed up by interim COO Tara Dillon.

The transitional team is working to boost membership and assemble the institute’s professional development framework, as well as build partnerships with awarding organisations and identify education and training programmes for CIMSPA members.

CIMSPA trustee Carl Bennett has acted as interim chair of the CIMSPA board since November 2013 and also led the nominations committee responsible for appointing Stalker, with support from recruitment specialists HPA Advisory.

After significant consideration, the board decided CIMSPA’s current phase of transition required a chair who could hit the ground running with a detailed understanding of the organisation and sector it serves, while also being able to offer more support than is typically provided by an independent non-executive chair. The board unanimously agreed that Stalker represented these qualities, with his efforts during 2013 to review the institute and redesign its business plan playing a big factor.

The nominations committee and board of trustees have also announced the appointment of Carl Bennett as vice chair, tasked with supporting Stalker and the transitional team.

Additionally, the board will now move to recruit further trustees from the sector, and an ambassador who will act as the patron for the institute. A patron will communicate the aims and objectives of the institute and the importance of professional development across the sport and activity sector.

Following Stalker’s year-long term, an independent non-executive chair will be appointed, as originally outlined by the business and governance plan discussed at the 2013 annual general meeting.

“It will be a challenging and busy year but I believe in the importance and potential of the Institute more than ever before and am delighted that we are beginning to see it come to fruition,” said Stalker.

“In my role as chair I will be calling on employers to continue to advocate the highest principles of professionalism and support their institute. I also look forward to recruiting new dynamic individuals onto the board who will bring a fresh perspective and ideas on how we can continue to support our sector.”

To read an exclusive interview with Stalker from the Q1 edition of Sports Management, where he talks about the “key role” CIMSPA has to play in driving the sector forward, click here.