Expert recruiters find visionary leader for Lancashire Football Association

Recruitment experts Walmsley Wilkinson have ended the search for a new chair of the board of directors for the Lancashire Football Association to lead the organisation into the future.

David Flory, currently independent chair of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria, steps into the role after the search by the Lancashire-based executive and management recruitment advisers.

Taryn Wilkinson, director of Walmsley Wilkinson, said: “This has been a dream brief for us in the heart of Lancashire to find a leader with such a background to meet the demands of a challenging, diverse organisation at this time of change in sport and wider society.”

Lancashire FA CEO Simon Gerrard said: “We’re excited to welcome David to Lancashire FA and we look forward to working with him to realise our goals and capitalise on the many growth and investment opportunities for football in Lancashire. He brings with him great expertise leading organisations and has already demonstrated a clear ambition to support our journey as a modern, high-performance organisation.”

David Flory has 22 years of board-level experience as chief executive and executive director of NHS organisations in England and healthcare organisations internationally, including six years working as deputy chief executive-director general in the Department of Health for England. David was awarded a CBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List. 

Previously chief of hospitals at Hamad Medical Corporation in the State of Qatar, David was responsible for 14 hospitals serving the country’s three million population.

David Flory said: “I am passionate about football. It is and has been a big part of my life since childhood as a participant, a fan and a parent. Participation in sport has a positive impact on health, fitness and wellbeing. It teaches teamwork, leadership, social confidence and emotional resilience as well as skill development and personal growth.”

Walmsley Wilkinson, which is owned by two female partners, Linda Walmsley and Taryn Wilkinson, offers professional solutions for executive and management recruitment needs. It supports a variety of organisations, including large corporations, family-owned entities, private equity and the third sector to identify and secure the best leadership talent across the UK and internationally.

Lancashire FA is the governing body for football in Lancashire, and the largest County Football Association in the country, leading the way in promoting and developing football in the region.