WORCESTER Warriors have appointed Jim O’Toole as the club’s new chief executive officer.

O’Toole, who currently holds the position of commercial director at Aviva Premiership club London Irish, will begin his Sixways tenure on March 1.

The appointment is a significant step in the ongoing implementation of the club’s long-term strategy to deliver success on and off the pitch.

Warriors' acting chief executive and chairman Anthony Glossop, who took temporary charge when Charles Cameron stood down in February, said: “We are delighted to have secured Jim’s services.

“He has a wealth of very relevant experience that equips him well to provide a leadership role in taking the club forward.”

Greg Allen, speaking on behalf of Sixways Holdings Limited, said: “I am pleased that we are in a position to make this announcement.

“The club would also like to put on record its thanks to Anthony for stepping in as acting chief executive at a difficult time.”

With more than 25 years of experience in the sports industry, O’Toole was a founding director of Premiere Consulting in 1996 — a consultancy delivering sponsorship-related solutions to clients including Barclays Bank and CIS Insurance.

Following its sale to the WPP Group, O’Toole remained within the organisation, firstly as group managing director of Premiere Group before becoming chief executive of 141 Sport & Entertainment.

He was appointed as chief executive of Powerboat P1 in 2007, where he oversaw the operational management of seven Grand Prix of the Sea.

In June 2013, O’Toole joined London Irish and has played a key role in the club, increasing their merchandise revenue and becoming one of the Premiership’s top-five sponsorship performers.

Glossop will continue in his role as a director.