Mark brings more than 20 years of experience in sports performance systems, athlete pathway development and major event delivery across the UK and international sport landscape. In his new role, he will support the implementation of Paddle Scotland’s new strategy, strengthening connections between grassroots participation, club development and performance pathways.

Most recently, Mark has been Pathway Lead at Scottish Cycling, where he designed and implemented an integrated performance pathway linking participation with podium-level performance across Olympic and para-cycling disciplines. His work has focused on aligning athlete development, coach education and club growth through measurable performance frameworks.

Mark also played a key role in the delivery of the 2023 inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, supporting the coordination of athletes, coaches and partners across multiple venues to ensure the successful delivery of the global competition.

Earlier in his career he served as Head of Talent at GB Snowsport, where he led the development of athlete pathways across Olympic and Paralympic disciplines and helped shape performance strategy for successive Winter Olympic cycles.

Speaking about his appointment, Mark said:

“I am excited by the opportunity to join Paddle Scotland as its first Head of Sport. This brand-new role offers a rare chance to shape the future of paddlesport in Scotland, build a high-performing team, and create systems that connect sport development and performance development from grassroots to elite levels.”

He added:

“Success in sport doesn’t come from isolated programmes or individual talent - it comes from systems that bring athletes, coaches, clubs and communities together. I look forward to working with the paddling community across Scotland to strengthen those connections and help athletes and clubs thrive.”

Commenting on the appointment, Kevin Pringle, CEO of Paddle Scotland, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Mark to Paddle Scotland. He brings an exceptional breadth of experience across athlete development, performance systems and major events, as well as a strong track record of building collaborative partnerships across the sporting landscape.

“This is an important new role for our organisation as we continue to grow paddlesport across Scotland while strengthening the pathways that support athletes, coaches and clubs to progress and succeed. Mark’s leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we deliver our vision for a connected and thriving paddling community.”

As Head of Sport, Mark will lead Paddle Scotland’s performance and development teams, focusing on club support, athlete pathways, coach development and strengthening connections between the paddlesport community. Mark will start in his new role on 20 April.