BHA unveil six new directors

The British Horseracing Authority has appointed six new non-executive directors to its Board.

A specialist search firm, Sports Recruitment International, worked closely with the BHA and reported its findings to the nominations committee of Steve Harman (BHA), Ian Barlow (Racecourse Association chairman) and Rachel Hood (Racehorse Owners Association).

The new Board is designed to fit with governance best practice and to help the future health and growth of the sport over coming years with two further directors due to be appointed to assist the transition.

Steve Harman, chairman of BHA, said: "This is the start of a new chapter for the BHA Board and the next step in its evolution as a governing and regulatory body.

"As seen in our recent Chief Executive appointment process, this Board recruitment attracted some amazingly talented people, and many of those who were not successful have promised to help racing in other ways over the coming months and years.

"The new appointments mean that there will be a significant broadening and deepening of the expertise around the BHA Board table. This includes media and government relations, individuals with entrepreneurial, investor, financial and betting backgrounds, good regulatory knowledge and considerable training, development and welfare experience."

The new directors, who have been appointed for three-year terms from December 1, are: Atholl Duncan, an experienced non-executive director in sports organisations, Julie Harrington, who spent eight years with Northern Racing, Noel Harwerth, former breeder and former member of the Tote Board, Joe Saumarez Smith, CEO of Sports Gaming Ltd, Laura Whyte, former HR director for John Lewis and Eamonn Wilmott, founder & MD of Horses First Racing, a state of the art training yard, in partnership with trainer Jeremy Gask.