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The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has appointed Charmaine Carmichael and Alan Gilpin as Independent Non-Executive Directors (INEDs), further strengthening the union’s leadership.

Carmichael and Gilpin will join an established Operational Board that includes PFA Players’ Board Chair Omar Beckles, Vice-Chair and former player Peter Vincenti, PFA CEO Maheta Molango, and reappointed INEDs Professor Geoff Thompson MBE and Ebru Köksal.

Both new appointments bring significant international experience and leadership in their respective fields.

Charmaine Carmichael is a leader in the UK technology and business sectors, with experience as a CEO, Non-Executive Board Director and Committee Chair. She has a proven track record of building high-performing teams and driving digital transformation across international markets and industries. Carmichael has held executive and board roles at organisations including McKinsey & Company, BCG, GB Group PLC and Blue Prism Group Ltd. Known for her expertise in advanced technologies, digital innovation and corporate governance, she continues to champion growth and diversity in the tech ecosystem, inspiring the next generation of business leaders through her strategic vision.

Carmichael said: “I’m delighted to join the PFA at such a pivotal time. Helping individuals and organisations grow with purpose has been central to my work, and it’s clear that the PFA is committed to doing that for its members.

“I’m looking forward to helping the PFA achieve its objectives on behalf of members, and helping the union continue to give players the tools to thrive on and off the pitch.”

Alan Gilpin is the CEO of World Rugby. He has led the global development of the sport, including the successful delivery of men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups, and the implementation of long-term strategic planning for player welfare, commercial growth, and global reach. His professional experience includes senior roles at IMG and work on the London 2012 Olympic Games. Gilpin has also served as an independent board member of the British Basketball Federation, contributing to the development of the sport’s strategic direction across the UK.

Gilpin said: “Across all sports, it’s vital that athletes are heard, supported, and protected. Professional sports governance has to evolve in a way that genuinely serves its participants.

“The PFA have a vital role to play in developing that model within football, and I’m excited to have the chance to contribute to that.”

The appointment of new INEDs is part of the PFA’s modernised governance model, designed to combine experience and expertise from inside and outside of football, and to ensure the work and governance of the union is transparent and properly scrutinised.

Alongside these new appointments, the PFA has also confirmed that Geoff Thompson MBE and Ebru Köksal will extend their terms on the Operational Board. Their continued involvement ensures valuable continuity, drawing on their deep governance experience and long-standing commitment to the union’s modernisation.

The Operational Board works alongside the Players’ Board, a group of current and former players from across the Premier League, WSL, and EFL who are elected by their fellow professionals. The Players’ Board acts as the ‘voice of the changing room’, helping ensure that players’ needs and priorities are understood and reflected in the PFA’s work.