{{Short description|Scottish football executive (1956–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rod Petrie | image = NINTCHDBPICT000497203371 (cropped).jpg | caption = Petrie in 2019 | office = President of the Scottish Football Association | predecessor = Alan McRae | successor = Mike Mulraney | term_start = 12 June 2019 | term_end = 6 June 2023 | office1 = Chairman of Hibernian F.C. | predecessor1 = Ken Lewandowski | successor1 = Ron Gordon | term_end1 = 2 July 2019 | term_start1 = 14 December 2004 | birth_name = Roderick McKenzie Petrie | birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|4|22|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|8|21|1956|4|22|df=y}} | death_place = Longniddry, Scotland | occupation = Football executive, businessman | profession = Chartered accountant }}
'''Roderick McKenzie Petrie''' (22 April 1956 – 21 August 2025) was a Scottish football executive. He was the chairman and chief executive of Hibernian for over 20 years, and served on the boards of the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Premier League. Petrie was a qualified chartered accountant with training from Ernst & Young.
==Early life== Roderick McKenzie Petrie was born on 22 April 1956.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roderick Mckenzie PETRIE personal appointments |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/q13p9Tm-XpbrgVm40NNYDsZeuXg/appointments |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=Companies House}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=Eine schottische Erfolgsgeschichte |url=https://de.uefa.com/news-media/news/025b-0ee54004f759-13a0449aa639-1000--eine-schottische-erfolgsgeschichte/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=UEFA |language=German}}</ref>
==Career== Petrie trained to be a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young, eventually becoming an audit partner in 13 years with the firm.<ref name="sfa">{{cite news |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=2561 |title=The Board |work=www.scottishfa.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Association |accessdate=3 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819181633/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk//scottish_football.cfm?page=2561 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He was then managing director of the investment bank Quayle Munro for over six years.<ref name = "sfa"/>
===Hibernian=== Petrie, who had advised Tom Farmer throughout his rescue of Hibernian FC from receivership in 1991, joined the club's board of directors in 1996 and was appointed managing director in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport-comment/alan-pattullo/rod_petrie_braced_for_rough_ride_at_agm_despite_manager_s_exit_1_1953113|title=Rod Petrie braced for rough ride at AGM despite manager's exit |first=Colin|last=Leslie|work=The Scotsman|publisher=Johnston Press|date=8 November 2011|accessdate=8 November 2011}}</ref>
Petrie was involved in the creation of the Scottish Premier League, but Hibs themselves missed the first season in the new top flight of Scottish football due to being relegated to the second tier (First Division) in 1998. The club won the First Division at the first attempt in season 1998–99 and returned to the top division. A new main (west) Stand was built at Easter Road in 2001, adding to the new North (Famous Five) and South Stands built earlier in Sir Tom's ownership.
Most Scottish football clubs hit financial difficulty in 2002 when the television broadcast deal with Sky Sports ended after the league and broadcaster failed to reach agreement on a renewal. Hibernian was one of the first Scottish clubs to react to the new financial landscape, taking action to reduce costs as quickly as possible. However losses accrued and added to the loan taken to develop the new stand, the club saw its debt level increase.
Petrie, the only significant minority shareholder in Hibs, and the board explored options to reduce debt. Two options were identified: one was for the club to stay at Easter Road while increasing revenue; the second was to sell the Easter Road site to clear the club's debt and to share a proposed new ground in Midlothian with Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts, who also had significant financial problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibs.net/NewsItems/July2003/news_July_10_2_GS.htm |title=Hibs spokesman's honesty is appreciated |publisher=www.hibs.net |date=10 July 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108103645/http://www.hibs.net/NewsItems/July2003/news_July_10_2_GS.htm |archive-date=8 January 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Hibs opened discussions with Hearts about the possibility of moving to Straiton,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/2993214.stm |title=Capital groundshare plan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2003}}</ref> but this was met with a sceptical reaction by the Hibs fans.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/2995452.stm |title=Hibs fans share scepticism |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2003}}</ref>
Hibs then appointed former player and manager Pat Stanton to act as an "honest broker" in a public consultation process that followed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3016636.stm |title=Stanton leads consultation |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 June 2003}}</ref> The result of the consultation was that Hibs decided to stay at Easter Road.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/3223775.stm |title=Straiton still on for Hearts |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 October 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031102/ai_n12586445 |title=Straiton dead end unites the Hibs family |work=Sunday Herald |date=2 November 2003}}</ref> The club launched a campaign called '''Stand Up And Be Counted''' to engage with fans in an effort to increase revenues.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hibs.co.uk/news/comments.php?id=68_0_1_0_C |title=Time running out |publisher=Hibernian official website |date=4 February 2004 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Land behind the east side of Easter Road was sold by the parent company after the club identified the footprint of land it wished to keep for future redevelopment. The sale, to a housing developer named Westpoint Homes, helped reduce the club's debt to a more manageable level after the parent company forgave a significant sum owed to it by the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hibs.co.uk/news/comments.php?id=53_0_1_0_C |title=Hibernian Comment on Land Sale |publisher=Hibernian official website |date=24 January 2004 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The club continued to exercise prudence in its financial dealings, with tight control of costs.
[[File:John Collins Hibs.jpg|thumb|250px|Petrie (left) introduces John Collins as Hibs manager at a press conference on 31 October 2006.]] Petrie was appointed Hibs chairman in December 2004, after the resignation of Ken Lewandowski.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4094791.stm |title=Petrie takes over as Hibs chair |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 December 2004}}</ref> After the appointment of Tony Mowbray as Hibs manager in May 2004, Hibs made a trading profit in four consecutive years.<ref name="Hibs financial results 2006/07">{{cite web |title=A Winning Season |url=http://www.hibs.co.uk/news/more.php?id=A2352_0_1_0_M |publisher=Hibernian official site}}{{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Hibs also received significant transfer income for Garry O'Connor (£1.6M),<ref>[http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/news/loadroll.asp?cid=ED11&id=271099 Garry O'Connor Completes move to Lokomotiv Moscow] www.hibernian-mad.co.uk, 6 March 2006</ref><ref group = "note" name = "re-signed"/> Kevin Thomson (£2M),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6315061.stm |title=Rangers pay Hibs £2m for Thomson |publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 January 2007}}</ref><ref group = "note" name = "re-signed"/> Scott Brown (£4.4M),<ref name="Scott Brown signs for celtic">{{cite web|title = Brown completes switch to Celtic| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/6661737.stm|publisher=BBC Sport| date = 16 May 2007}}</ref> Ivan Sproule (£0.5M),<ref name="r6">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/6769397.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Bristol City sign Hibs' Sproule|date=28 June 2007}}</ref><ref group = "note" name = "re-signed"/> Steven Whittaker (£2M),<ref name="Whittaker in £2m Rangers switch">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6921914.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Whittaker in £2m Rangers switch|date=1 August 2007}}</ref> and David Murphy (£1.5M)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1218184,00.html |title=Murphy completes Blues move |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=17 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428160812/http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~1218184%2C00.html |archive-date=28 April 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> during this same period. Hibs also lost the services of Scottish national team footballers Ian Murray,<ref group = "note" name = "re-signed">Hibs subsequently re-signed Murray, O'Connor, Riordan, Sproule and Thomson later in their careers.</ref> Derek Riordan<ref group = "note" name = "re-signed"/> and Gary Caldwell for little or no fee due to the expiry of their contracts.
Despite criticism, particularly after the resignation of John Collins,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7153893.stm |title=Collins resigns as Hibs manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 December 2007}}</ref> that he had not used enough of these revenues on increased spending on players, Petrie argued that the club increased the budget for player wages four times<ref name="Hibs financial results 2006/07"/> and invested in a new training ground in East Lothian,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7151795.stm |title=Collins hails new training centre |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2007 |access-date=10 October 2010}}</ref> while also reducing the net debt to under £3M.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11092007/1/petrie-defends-hibs-spending.html |title=Petrie defends Hibs spending |publisher=Eurosport |date=11 September 2007}}</ref> Petrie's relationship with the Scottish media was also been a point of interest. Despite praise for his confident financial management,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2010/06/05/sportstory15175304t0.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608091624/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2010/06/05/sportstory15175304t0.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2010 |title=Hibs plan hailed as way forward |work=The Courier |publisher=DC Thomson |date=5 June 2010 |accessdate=5 June 2010 }}</ref> some journalists accused Petrie of being uncooperative.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Keith |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/comment/columnists/sport-columnists/keith-jackson/2008/01/23/the-moustache-with-the-cash-86908-20295410/ |title=The Moustache with the Cash |work=Daily Record |publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929003624/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/comment/columnists/sport-columnists/keith-jackson/2008/01/23/the-moustache-with-the-cash-86908-20295410/ |archive-date=29 September 2008 |accessdate=16 June 2013}}</ref>
Petrie resigned from his position as chief executive in April 2008 and was replaced by Scott Lindsey,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stv.tv/sport/exclusive/Hibernian_videos/Boardroom_changes_at_Hibernianx_0804041 |title=Boardroom changes at Hibernian |publisher=STV |date=4 April 2008 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> but retained his position as chairman. Petrie stated that Lindsay would take over the "day-to-day running of the club", while Petrie would retain control of "executive duties", including the negotiation of player contracts and setting the player budget.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Petrie-delegates-control-of-Hibs.3947787.jp |title=Petrie delegates control of Hibs |work=The Scotsman |date=3 April 2008}}</ref> Hibs continued to break even in the 2009–10 season, although this was due to the sale of players offsetting a trading loss.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Hibs-clock-up-sixth-consecutive.6521967.jp |title=Hibs clock up sixth consecutive year of profit |last=Hardie |first=David |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=9 September 2010 |accessdate=10 October 2010}}</ref>
After manager John Hughes left the club with mutual consent in October 2010, Petrie received criticism from former player Paul Kane for his track record in appointing managers.<ref name = "hughes left"/> The previous three managers – John Collins, Mixu Paatelainen and Hughes – had all left the club within 18 months of being appointed.<ref name = "hughes left">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/more-scottish-football/after-john-hughes-departure-the-appointment-of-a-hibernian-manager-who-stays-for-the-long-term-is-overdue-1.1060554 |title=After John Hughes' departure, the appointment of a Hibernian manager who stays for the long-term is overdue |work=Sunday Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group|date=10 October 2010 |accessdate=10 October 2010 |last=Fisher |first=Stewart}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14712015 |title=Pressure on Hibs chief and manager, says Paul Kane |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013}}</ref> Petrie was again criticised when Colin Calderwood was sacked after just over a year as Hibs manager.<ref name = "calderwood">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15622829|title=Billy Brown given Hibs caretaker role|publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 November 2011|access-date=7 November 2011}}</ref> Hibs announced that two other directors, Scott Lindsay and Fyfe Hyland, would conduct the next recruitment process.<ref name = "calderwood"/> After two years of declining attendances and financial losses, attendance stabilised in the 2012–13 season.<ref name = "2012 finances"/> Lindsay and Hyland both left the club during 2012, with other directors taking on their executive tasks.<ref name = "2012 finances">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport/football/rod-petrie-in-plea-to-fans-as-hibs-post-loss-1-2647215 |title=Rod Petrie in plea to fans as Hibs post loss |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=21 November 2012 |accessdate=16 June 2013 |first=Alan |last=Pattullo}}</ref>
Hibs continued to struggle on the field, culminating in their relegation to the second tier (Scottish Championship) in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/stuart-bathgate-hibs-in-freefall-before-butcher-1-3422481 |title=Stuart Bathgate: Hibs in freefall before Butcher |first=Stuart |last=Bathgate |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=26 May 2014 |accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref> Petrie, who had made Terry Butcher his seventh managerial appointment in 10 years as chairman during the 2013–14 season, pledged to continue as chairman while overseeing the introduction of Leeann Dempster as chief executive.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27573813 |title=Hibs: Terry Butcher & Rod Petrie pledge to fight on after relegation |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=26 May 2014}}</ref> A group of fans, led by Paul Kane, called on Petrie to resign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27641217 |title=Paul Kane leads campaign to oust Hibs chairman Petrie |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2014 |access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref>
Hibs would spend the next three seasons in the second tier, but ended their long Scottish Cup drought by winning the 2016 Scottish Cup final against Rangers.<ref name=cup>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14520628.rangers-fans-call-sfa-request-hibs-directors-resignation-riot-comments/ |title=Rangers fans call on SFA to request Hibs director's resignation over riot comments |first=Matthew |last=Lindsay |newspaper=The Herald |date=27 May 2016 |accessdate=22 August 2025}}</ref> There were clashes on the Hampden Park pitch between rival fans after the final whistle.<ref name = cup/> Petrie said Hibs fans had been showing "exuberance" at winning the cup, and his comments were criticised by Rangers and their supporter groups.<ref name=cup/>
After the American businessman Ronald Gordon acquired majority ownership of Hibernian in July 2019, Petrie resigned as chairman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48837235 |title=Hibernian: Ronald Gordon takes ownership from Sir Tom Farmer |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2019 |accessdate=2 July 2019}}</ref>
===Scottish Football Association=== Petrie served on the committees of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) from 1998 until 2023.<ref name = president>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11792/11740575/hibernian-chairman-rod-petrie-becomes-new-scottish-fa-president |title=Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie confirmed as new Scottish FA president |publisher=Sky Sports |date=12 June 2019 |accessdate=30 June 2019}}</ref> He was elected second vice-president in 2011 under the presidency of Campbell Ogilvie,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/sfa-set-for-radical-overhaul-2294152.html |title=SFA set for radical overhaul |first=Gavin |last=McCafferty |work=The Independent |date=7 June 2011 |accessdate=30 June 2019}}</ref> and then became first vice-president under Alan McRae. Petrie was himself elected SFA president in 2019, without any opposition.<ref name = president/> His election was criticised by John Collins, who said he felt there were other people who could offer greater "passion and knowledge".<ref name = president/> SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell defended Petrie, citing his long service and claimed that Petrie was "misunderstood" by the public.<ref name = president/> Soon after Petrie's election as president, the SFA completed a deal to purchase Hampden Park from Queen's Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48694803 |title=Scottish FA completes deal for Hampden Park ownership |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 June 2019 |accessdate=30 June 2019}}</ref>
Petrie was nominated for a place on the UEFA executive committee in 2023,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/sfa-president-and-former-hibs-chief-rod-petrie-among-final-candidates-for-uefa-role |title=SFA president Rod Petrie among final candidates for top UEFA role |first=Peter |last=Cassidy |website=STV News |date=17 February 2023 |accessdate=17 February 2023}}</ref> but did not win the election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65157683 |title=Scottish FA president Rod Petrie misses out in Uefa executive committee vote |website=BBC Sport |date=5 April 2023 |accessdate=5 April 2023}}</ref> He was succeeded as president of the SFA by Mike Mulraney in June 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/alloa-athletic-chairman-mike-mulraney-elected-as-president-of-scottish-fa |title=Alloa Athletic chairman Mike Mulraney elected as president of Scottish FA |website=STV News |first=Andy |last=Coyle |date=6 June 2023 |accessdate=6 June 2023}}</ref>
==Death== Petrie died surrounded by family at his home in Longniddry, East Lothian on 21 August 2025, at the age of 69, following a long battle with cancer.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 August 2025 |title=RIP Rod Petrie 1956–2025 |url=https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/2025/august/22/rip-rod-petrie-1956-2025/ |accessdate=22 August 2025 |publisher=Hibernian FC}}</ref>
==Notes== <references group="note"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrie, Rod}} Category:1956 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Deaths from cancer in Scotland Category:Chairmen and investors of football clubs in Scotland Category:Scottish chief executives Category:Scottish accountants Category:Hibernian F.C. directors and chairmen