The decision to quit his six-figure salary job comes despite a successful three-and-a-half years in the role that has seen him develop the brand, sponsorship, licensing, merchandising and ticketing strategies for the Commonwealth Games and also sell the international broadcasting rights for the event.

Glasgow 2014 claim that both parties agree a different approach is required for the next stage in the Games cycle; with a recruitment process now underway to appoint his successor.

"John has made a significant contribution to ensuring Glasgow 2014's commercial programme is further ahead than any previous Commonwealth Games in terms of commercial revenues secured at this stage of our preparations," said Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg.

"All the team at Glasgow 2014 wishes John well for the future.

"We have a strong commercial team in place, transitional arrangements are agreed and we have commenced our search for a new commercial director as we progress confidently to the next stage of delivering an outstanding and successful Commonwealth Games.

"We look forward over the coming weeks and months to unveiling many more of the world-class commercial partners who will share this history-making journey with us."

Before joining Glasgow 2014, Donnelly served as director of iris – a 350 strong integrated marketing agency based in London and Manchester where his clients included Sony, Scottish Courage and Sure.

He has also previously worked as interim head of commercial and marketing at the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) where he set and delivered a new ticketing strategy, recruited new corporate sponsorship partners and devised and implemented successful marketing campaigns.

Prior to his time at the SRU, he was a Group Board director and managing director for bd ntwk in London where he worked on accounts such as Coca Cola, Orange, Peugeot, Inbev and Wanadoo.



"The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be the largest and most exciting multi-sports event ever to take place in Scotland and I have been proud to have played a part in bringing it to life," said Donnelly.

"I wish David and the Glasgow 2014 team every success as they move on the next stage of the journey towards delivering an athlete centred and sports focused Games of which Glasgow and Scotland can be proud."

Donnelly is the most senior member of the Glasgow 2014 executive team to leave his post since John Scott was controversially forced to resign as chief executive last June after he admitted to breaking rules over accepting gifts and hospitality from a potential supplier.

It was reported that he accepted £6,000 ($10,000/€7,500) worth of free tax advice from accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) that he did not declare and after an extensive search, Grevemberg was announced as the new chief executive in September in a move that saw him step up from his previous role as chief operating officer at Glasgow 2014.

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