Martin Slumbers will succeed Peter Dawson in top job at R&A

The R&A has announced the appointment of Martin Slumbers as Chief Executive and also as Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, with effect from October 1st, 2015.

Slumbers will succeed Peter Dawson who is retiring in September next year after 16 years leading the body which organises The British Open Championship and governs golf worldwide, jointly administering the sport with the USGA.

He will join the R&A in March 2015 as Chief Executive designate and spend six months working with Dawson before his retirement.

Born in Brighton and educated at Lancing College, Slumbers (54) gained a BSc in Production Engineering and Economics from the University of Birmingham.

He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London before embarking on a career in investment banking. He spent 12 years working for Salomon Brothers International in London and Hong Kong, becoming Chief Financial Officer in Asia and then Europe.

In 1998, he joined Deutsche Bank and served in a number of senior executive roles. He was appointed Global Head of Deutsche Bank's Investment Banking Operations in 2006 and the following year as Global Head of Global Business Services.

He is a keen golfer and a member of Worplesdon Golf Club in Surrey where he plays to a handicap of two. He is married with two sons.