Hockey: Robert Heatly takes command

Scottish Hockey has turned to the armed forces for its new chief executive officer. Former senior Royal Marine officer Robert Heatly MBE, 52, has succeeded Brent Deans, who returns to his native Australia after 16 years in the post. Heatly takes up office on 13 June.

Heatly was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1981 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. "I am delighted to have been given this fantastic opportunity by Scottish Hockey, having had a varied, demanding and interesting career in the Royal Marines, I was determined to become involved in sports management," he said.

Heatly was born and bred in Edinburgh and attended George Watson's College, he returned to the Capital in 2006 where he now lives with wife Debs and three teenage sons. Although not previously involved in hockey, Heatly's sporting career centred on swimming and water polo. His father is Sir Peter Heatly, three times Commonwealth Games diving medallist and former chairman of the Scottish Sports Council.