Heather Rabbatts CBE and Roger Devlin to join FA Board.

The FA Council has today ratified the appointment of Heather Rabbatts CBE and Roger Devlin as two new independent non-executive directors.

As the final stage in the process, it follows the unanimous approval of their appointments by The FA Board last December and represents a significant change to The FA’s governance structures.

The two new independent non-executive directors will join five representatives from the National Game, five from the Professional Game, The FA Chairman and General Secretary, thus extending the existing Board from 12 to 14 members.

FA Chairman David Bernstein said: “The FA Council’s ratification today is the final stage in appointing two independent non-executive directors to The FA Board and I am delighted that throughout the process, The Council, Shareholders and Board have shown their overwhelming support.”

Rabbatts will become the first female to ever sit on The FA Board and has more than 20 years executive and non-executive experience from both the public and private sector and across a breadth of industries, including local government, media, financial services and football. She was awarded a CBE in the 2000 New Year Honours list.

Devlin is a vastly experienced non-executive director and has operated as a senior executive within the corporate sector for globally recognised, large-scale organisations, with expertise in the banking sector, sport, media rights, property and hotels. He brings a genuine passion for sport and football.