Darach McQuaid has been appointed as chairman of Australian WorldTour team Mitchelton-Scott, saying he was “honoured” to take up the post, which was flagged in advance of today's announcement.
A management reshuffle and a number of departures have resulted in the key jobs at the top of the team changing hands, with McQuaid and Australian Brent Copeland now in the driving seats.
In his new post Darach McQuaid will be the direct line between the team and its owner Gerry Ryan, who was not expected to have a day-to-day hands-on role with the team.
“I am honoured to be appointed chairman of this world class team,” McQuaid said of his new role at the top of one of pro cycling’s biggest outfits.
“It is a great privilege to work alongside Gerry Ryan and now Brent Copeland in leading this organisation. I look forward to working with everyone in delivering the sporting, commercial and business strategy in the years to come.”
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Dubliner McQuaid, who brought the Giro d’Italia to Ireland in 2014, has been working as a commercial adviser to the team since 2017 and now joins it full-time as a key management figure.
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As part of the same changes Copeland becomes the general manager of the team. He joins after a long period as general manager with Bahrain-Merida and more recently as director of operations with Bahrain-McLaren.
Shayne Bannan, who initially set-up GreenEdge Cycling – which owns the team - alongside Ryan and has served as general manager since 2012, has moved on.
The reshuffle appears to draw a line under the somewhat
confusing picture of late in which the team was expected to be sponsored by Manuela
Fundación, with the Spanish charity having also been expected to take an
ownership role.
However, Gerry Ryan has insisted that deal is off and the
management changes appear to now reset the team for the remainder of the year
and beyond.
“We are looking forward to having the experience of Brent, who we believe will fit immediately into our proud culture, coming into the team as the new general manager, as well as Darach into the role as chairman and are even more excited to see the action back out on the road in just a few short weeks,” Gerry Ryan said.
Brent Copeland said he was “extremely excited” to be appointed general manager and was looking forward to the years ahead.
“Mitchelton-Scott has always been a team which I have recognised as being leaders in the world of cycling, not only for the great organisation and competitiveness they always show but also the image as a team which they have created over the many years,” Copeland said.
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