Martin Slumbers, a country member at Brighton and Hove golf club, has been appointed as the new chief executive of the R&A from 1 October 2015 to succeed the retiring Peter Dawson.
Slumbers, 54, will also become secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
The R&A, which organises The Open Championship, jointly governs world golf with the United States Golf Association.
Slumbers has spent much of his career in finance but plays off a handicap of two at his local club in Surrey.
"Golf has always been close to my heart, and I am very much looking forward to living and working in St Andrews," he said.
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