Scottish Rugby has sacked its chief executive, Alex Williamson, after a months-long examination of his conduct in the role.

Appointed as successor to Mark Dodson in September 2024, Williamson started work at Murrayfield in early 2025.

A low-key figure, it was announced in late-May this year that he had been put on a period of extended leave. No explanation was offered as to the reason why.

Now John McGuigan, chairman of Scottish Rugby Limited, has announced: “The board of Scottish Rugby has today dismissed Alex Williamson from his position as chief executive with immediate effect.

“His dismissal follows the conclusion of an independent investigation into matters that were brought to the board’s attention earlier this year.

“In light of the investigation findings, the board of Scottish Rugby concluded that the CEO’s conduct had fallen significantly below the standards we set as an organisation.”

Current chief financial officer David White is set to become interim chief executive while the governing body begins the process of replacing Williamson.

Williamson’s dismissal came after an extensive inquiry and is hugely embarrassing for Scottish Rugby.

Williamson was appointed after Scottish Rugby failed in a bid to land Mark Darbon as Dodson’s replacement.

The deal to sign Darbon, previously chief executive of Northampton Saints in England’s Premiership, was almost done, but at a late stage, and to the fury of all at Murrayfield, he took up the position of chief executive at the R&A in St Andrews.

Dodson’s exit was a bruising affair for the organisation and Darbon’s apparent u-turn was the source of much frustration.

Now they have been cast into another recruitment process.

The next 14 months are enormously important to the SRU, with Nations Championship games at Murrayfield in the autumn – including one against the All Blacks – followed by the Six Nations in the spring and the World Cup beginning in Australia next October.

Williamson’s arrival was hailed by Scottish Rugby after his previous roles running the Goodwood Estate and as chief executive of House of Fraser.

“He has a proven track record of achieving commercial growth, accelerating the transformation of established businesses to achieve improved performance and, at the same time, consistently emphasising the importance of authenticity, openness and community values,” Scottish Rugby’s statement said when announcing his appointment.

Williamson had spoken about the pleasure he would derive from “shaping the future of something that is about so much more than rugby. A sport that brings families together, inspires fans and connects communities in the way Scottish rugby does makes it more important than ever.”

At a time when on-field matters seem to be improving – Scotland had an encouraging Six Nations and summer series – uncertainty at the top has returned.