The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) today announces that it has appointed Richard Wayman as Chief Operating Officer, filling a key new position – initially publicised as Director of Racing and Operations, but now with added responsibility for Finance – in the organisation’s Executive team following the restructure detailed last month.

Reporting to Chief Executive Nick Rust, Wayman will assume overall responsibility for the sport’s Fixture List, Race Planning and Handicapping, along with the BHA’s relationship with Weatherbys and many of the BHA’s corporate services functions, including its Finance team.

He will also be responsible for the oversight and delivery of the BHA’s overall development programme flowing from its strategic objectives for the next 18 months, and work closely with Ruth Quinn, the BHA’s Director of International Racing and Racing Development, on a range of matters. His start date is not yet confirmed, but anticipated to be before the end of 2015. Until then, Rust will have direct responsibility for these areas.

Since January 2012, Wayman has been Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association, having previously worked at the BHA and its predecessor the British Horseracing Board from 2004 as Assistant Racing Director. A Cambridge graduate with a first class honours degree in Economics, he took part in the then Jockey Club Graduate Development Programme in 1992, subsequently working at William Hill, PricewaterhouseCoopers – where he qualified as a chartered accountant – and the British Racing School, as Finance Director. He has been a racehorse owner for 18 years, and is currently part-owner of three horses in training.

Wayman will join the BHA at the time of significant change within the organisation, and the sport. A Strategy for Growth was launched earlier in 2015, underpinned by ambitious targets to increase participation across a number of headings, and a new governance structure and Members Agreement between the BHA, the Racecourse Association and Horsemen’s Group, is close to finalisation.

BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust said:

“There were a number of very strong candidates for this crucial role at the heart of the BHA – and the sport – but Richard stood out for his deep affinity with British Racing, and knowledge and understanding of its varied stakeholders and customers. The Fixture List, and the development of an associated holistic Race Programme, have been identified as being pivotal to the sport’s progress in the coming years, and will be Richard’s key priorities, as well as working alongside others to help deliver a brighter future for British Racing.”

Richard Wayman said:

“At a time when British Racing is facing significant challenges and also some exciting opportunities, I am thrilled to have been given the chance to work with Nick Rust and the rest of the team at the BHA to support the future of our industry. I am a strong believer in collaboration and so I also look forward to working very closely with sport’s many stakeholders including in the crucial areas of the Fixture List and Race Programme.”