Cornish Pirates have announced the appointment of a new CEO.

Sally Pettipher will take on the role with immediate effect.

Having previously served as chief of staff to Sir Dicky Evans, Mrs Pettipher is not unfamiliar with the club.

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She has plenty of experience in rugby union, having served as chief executive of international rugby charity, the Atlas Foundation, which under her stewardship went from a start-up to a global enterprise of rugby champions overseeing child welfare and education projects.

She also has spent some time at the home of English rugby, Twickenham, working on the All Schools' Programme for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

In addition, she is a founding trustee of two national sports charities, in which she has advised the Government on head injury protocols in amateur sports.

Mrs Pettipher said: "I am grateful to Sir Richard and to the Board of Cornish Pirates for this privilege.

"Pirates gets under your skin, and I’ve been a huge fan from the first moment I met the team there: players, coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the scenes.

"I am looking forward to ensuring the long- term sustainability of this historic club."

As part of her introduction, Mrs Pettipher will attend the Meet the Players evening tomorrow, where she will address supporters and take questions from the media.