The British Horseracing Board today gave details of a restructuring of its Executive to provide an increased commercial focus in anticipation of the changes which will result from the Governmen4_x0019_s planned abolition of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the statutory levy mechanism and the sale of the Tote to Racing.
Chris Reynolds, 43, will join BHB in July as Managing Director with responsibility for strategy and all commercial matters, as well as for the Racing, Marketing, Communications, Finance and Personnel Departments.
Chief Executive Tristram Ricketts will become Secretary-General with responsibility for Board administration and all political and legislative issues, including the sale of the Tote, the abolition of the Levy Board and the Gambling Review. He will continue to report direct to the Chairman and the Board and will also work with the Chairman and Managing Director on the Future Funding Plan for Racing and all international matters. He takes up his appointment as one of the three BHB nominees to the Levy Board next month.
The Executive will be further strengthened by the appointment of Teresa Cash as Marketing Director and Grant Harris as Assistant Racing Director. A Communications Manager is expected to be appointed shortly.
BHB Chairman, Peter Savill said today:
“We are delighted to have secured the services of Chris Reynolds, who will be a very valuable addition to BHB’s management. I am convinced that we now have a senior executive team that can lead British Racing in the post-Levy era, backed up by the many other talented individuals at BHB who serve Racing with such commitment.
“The racing environment has changed significantly since BHB was established seven years ago and even bigger changes are now in prospect. The BHB Board believes that the new structure will better enable Racing’s Governing Authority to meet the challenges ahead. An increasingly commercial and marketing-oriented approach is now more vital than ever”.
Tristram Ricketts commented:
“The Board has recognised that, in this rapidly-changing environment, BHB is under-resourced and, in particular, needs a significant strengthening of commercial capabilities. I and my colleagues are looking forward to welcoming Chris and working with him to maximise the momentum of beneficial change”.
Chris Reynolds said:
“I am greatly excited at the opportunities currently opening up to Racing. I look forward immensely to working with Peter, Tristram and the BHB team on the development of a focused strategic approach to the tasks ahead. I hope that my exposure to the more overtly commercial side of sport and leisure for the past 18 years will enable me to contribute positively to the evolution of both BHB and the racing industry”.
Contact: Peter Savill 020 7343 3304
