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BOA signs Field as Wilkens heads for pastures new

With nine months before the 2016 Olympic Games, Scott Field has been appointed as director of communications at the British Olympic Association.

Miriam Wilkens, right, with former SJA chairman Barry Newcombe, has been a key figure at the BOA for a decade
Miriam Wilkens, right, with former SJA chairman Barry Newcombe, has been a key figure at the BOA for a decade

Field is to replace Miriam Wilkens, who is leaving the BOA after nearly a decade to take up a new role, as vice-president of communications with international food conglomerate Tate & Lyle.

Field has previously worked in the football press offices at Watford, West Brom and most recently at Wembley working for the FA,

Field has been at the FA as head of media relations since 2009.

Today, with England qualified to play at the European Championships in France next summer, the FA said it “will be looking to announce interim arrangements as soon as possible”.

Field will join the BOA in the New Year, working alongside the existing comms department staffers Laura Meech and Ed Langford.

“Scott will bring a fresh perspective to our leadership team and we are very much looking forward to working with him,” said Bill Sweeney, the BOA’s chief executive.

“His network and experiences are very relevant and he will help us continue to build relationships across the media and provide the best possible support to our sports, athletes, and key stakeholders.”

Scott Field: BOA-bound
Scott Field: BOA-bound

In an announcement from the FA, Field described working at the FA as “the pinnacle of jobs in football”.

He, or whoever it was who issued the media statement from the BOA this morning, may need a little more guidance over Olympic etiquette, as a quote was attributed to Field referring to “this exciting period in the build-up to the Brazil Games”, when, of course, Olympic Games are awarded to cities – in this case Rio de Janeiro – and never to countries.

Field, who worked in the communications team on football during the 2012 London Games, said: “Having worked at World Cups and European finals in football, there are few other arenas I would swap this for, but the Olympics is a unique and special opportunity. It will be a very different experience to that of London, but it will be a great challenge to prepare for and deliver success in Rio.”

Wilkens had worked with the International Paralympic Committee before joining the BOA, for whom she worked through five Olympic Games, winter and summer, and throughout the majority of the “journey” towards London 2012 as a host city. She thanked her erstwhile colleagues in sport: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with you. Thank you for your support and many, many great experiences and opportunities. I feel privileged to be taking so many fabulous memories with me.”