“The British Horseracing Board has named a leading businessman, Martin Broughton, as its new Independent Director.
Mr Broughton, Executive Chairman of British American Tobacco, will join the Board on 1st December for an initial term of two years. He was selected from more than 100 applicants.
The appointment of an Independent Director is part of a package of constitutional reforms announced by the BHB at the end of last year, designed to build a more democratic, representative and broader-based Board.
Mr Broughton was educated at Westminster City Grammar School, qualified as a chartered accountant and joined British-American Tobacco Co. in 1971 as a travelling auditor. After a number of financial positions throughout the world, he was appointed to the main board of B.A.T. Industries as Finance Director in 1988, became Group Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman in 1993 and Executive Chairman of British American Tobacco p.l.c. in 1998.
Mr Broughton, 52, is married with two children. He has had a keen interest in racing for many years and has four horses in training with Henrietta Knight.
BHB Chairman, Peter Savill, said:

“”The appointment of an Independent Director was a key part of the constitutional reforms introduced earlier this year and I am delighted that a man of Martin Broughton’s stature and experience has agreed to fulfil the role. His commercial expertise will be invaluable at a time of great change in the racing industry.””

Martin Broughton said:

“”The horseracing industry is facing a number of important issues. I think it’s essential that the BHB continues to show leadership in getting a unified view on those issues and I greatly look forward to being able to contribute to the discussions.””
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