Back in March, we announced the appointment of Marcus Reynolds as our new Chief Executive Officer.

Marcus joins FGR at the end of May, so we thought we'd get to know him a little bit better before he arrives in Nailsworth.

Q: Welcome to the club, Marcus! We’re looking forward to having you on board. You’re joining us from New Zealand, tell us a bit about yourself... 

Thanks, I can’t wait to get started! First and foremost I’m a husband and a dad. My wife and I have been married for 18 years and we have two boys, Blake (12) and Devon (10). On a professional level, I’m a qualified lawyer but I’ve spent my career in the corporate and sports sectors. 

Q: This is clearly a big move for you and the family, why Forest Green Rovers? 

I’m a big believer that to give everything to a job, you have to love what you do. The more I read about FGR, the more impressed I was. The ability to make a difference on and off the pitch was a big factor for me on a personal and professional level.  

Q: Have people heard of Forest Green Rovers in New Zealand? 

More than you might think! I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how many people have reached out to congratulate me who also knew all about FGR and what they stand for. When the club can reach a rugby mad country as far away as New Zealand, you know they’re doing a lot right!

 Q: What sort of activities do you enjoy outside of work? 

I’m pretty good at keeping my life balanced. That said, I spend most of my free time involved with my boys’ activities. My eldest plays football and touch rugby so I coach and help out with his various teams. My youngest is super creative and into running, which basically means when we run together he talks the entire time. As a family we like to travel, my wife and I want the boys to understand and experience what being a global citizen means. 

Q: You’re clearly a sports fan, what’s your favourite sporting moment? 

I appreciate it’s not a football story, but the All Blacks winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup on home soil was a massive occasion. There were so many learnings from that victory – How to handle intense pressure, how to deal with the unexpected, how to engage an entire country around a sports event, how to leave a legacy. Just incredible. 

 Q: Any sporting icons? 

I’ve always respected hard work as much as natural talent, so I’d have to say Gary Lineker, Venus & Serena Williams and Richie McCaw.

Q: How would you describe yourself? 

Calm, competitive and relentlessly positive. 

Q: What makes you a good fit for Forest Green Rovers? 

Sport, innovation and the environment are all engrained into the New Zealand psyche. I’ve successfully balanced these throughout my career and working at FGR will help me take that to another level.  

Q: What does FGR's sustainability ethos mean to you? 

I love the fact that the club are leading the way towards a more sustainable future. Despite being the right thing to do, it still takes courage to make the decisions that FGR have and take a stand. Part of my role will be influencing others to do the same. My approach to sustainability, for the club and the environment, is to leave both in a better state for the next generation. 

Q: What are you looking forward to most about the role? 

I’m a people person and enjoy the energy you get meeting people face to face. I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting everyone involved with the club - not just the staff, commercial partners and players, but also the volunteers, supporters and the community. 

Q: You’re coming from outside of football, do you think that will make the transition difficult? 

Not at all. There’s already plenty of football knowledge at the club, my role as CEO is to provide those staff with the tools they need to perform at the highest level. To me leadership isn’t about having all the right answers, it’s about surrounding yourself with good people and asking all the right questions. 

Q: What does high performance look like to you? 

To me high performance is the result of values, culture and behaviours all being aligned. For Forest Green Rovers to achieve its goals we need to be high performing in all aspects of the organisation, on and off the pitch. 

Q: For our final question, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? 

Life only moves in one direction.