Sunderland appoint Scottish Rugby data specialist James Mullins as Head of Business Insights | OneFootball

Sunderland have appointed James Mullins as Head of Business Insights, recruiting the senior data specialist from Scottish Rugby.

He said in a post that he was delighted to join a club with history, ambition and an exceptional fanbase, that he looks forward to working with David Bruce, Brandon Furse and Scott McCubbin, and that Sunderland have huge potential as they build on recent momentum.

Mullins spent more than five years with Scottish Rugby, most recently as Head of Digital and Data, having earlier served as Head of Data and Insights and Data Science Manager.

He established a track record in performance analytics, reporting and strategic decision-making in elite sport.

He has held academic posts at Northumbria University and the University of Gloucestershire, and previously worked as a performance analyst with Performance Advantage.

That consultancy spanned elite sport, including work with Durham CCC and the Scottish Rugby Union.

The appointment underlines Sunderland’s increased focus on data-led decision-making across football and commercial departments, alongside investment in infrastructure and specialist staff to support long-term growth.

Source: Sunderland Echo