- Business Advisor, Tom Cusack officially seated to the USA Rugby Board of Directors following completed term from outgoing Director Paul Santinelli
- Cusack’s nomination completes the USA Rugby Board reseating with all current Directors now in their first term.
- First seated Board Meeting for Cusack will be June 25, 2021 during Quest For Gold Sevens in Los Angeles.
GLENDALE, CO (June 9, 2021) – Based out of Santa Barbara, CA, private investor and business advisor, Tom Cusack has been nominated and seated to the USA Rugby Board of Directors. Cusack’s addition to the leadership group comes after former Director, Paul Santinelli’s completed term. As the final new addition to the Board, all current members are now fully seated and serving first terms, collectively moving forward into a reorganized USA Rugby governance structure. Cusack will travel to Los Angeles at the end of this month for his first seated Board meeting during the Quest For Gold Sevens event at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Cusack noted on his addition to the Board, “I am looking forward to working with the Board, Ross, and staff at USA Rugby to grow the foundations of rugby across the country. From youth through the college and club levels, to our men’s and women’s national teams.”
A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Business School, Cusack served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Transamerica Life Companies. Prior to joining Transamerica, Cusack was Manager of Business Development and Strategy for the General Electric Company and was a consultant with McKinsey and Company.
Philanthropically, Cusack is a former director and Board Chair of Direct Relief, a humanitarian relief agency, and former Chair of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. He is currently a Director of Cottage Health, a nonprofit hospital system in Santa Barbara.
Tom started his rugby career during his college days at the University of Pennsylvania where he played from 1973-77. He later played for the Harvard Business School Club from 1979-81 and for the Bay Area Touring Side in San Francisco from 1981-87.
USA Rugby CEO, Ross Young said, “Mr. Cusack was initially included in the call for nominations during the Board restructure last summer and we are incredibly happy to have him join the organization at this time. His practical knowledge and extensive experience in corporate governance and board leadership is welcomed here at USA Rugby.”
Director Paul Santinelli will depart the Board as his term ends, however, will continue to make himself available to the Board and National Office in an advisory role to allow for continuity. Joining the USA Rugby Board in June 2018, Santinelli both supported and drove number of major initiatives during his term from the initial governance review onto heading the bankruptcy panel through the union reorganization.
“Paul’s support over the last two and a half years, particularly during the reorganization, has been essential. Interacting with stakeholders on every level of the game, day-in-day-out, and his role as Vice Chair truly showed his dedication to the sport he loves and continues to play. A sincere thank you to Paul and very much looking forward to his continued involvement with rugby in the United States.”
