The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the new unified governing and regulatory body for the sport, is to establish a role of Director of Communications and Promotion.

The new position will report to Chief Executive Nic Coward and include responsibility for promoting racing; communications and media liaison; public affairs; and community relations. Executive search consultants Nolan Partners have been appointed to carry out the recruitment process for the role, which will also be advertised.

At the same time, the BHA has also announced that Alan Delmonte has decided to leave the organisation at the end of February next year. In the meantime, Delmonte will be the acting director. Delmonte, 34, joined the British Horseracing Board in 1996 and became Communications Manager in 2001 before being promoted to his current role as Public Affairs Director and Company Secretary in 2005.

Nic Coward said: “It is one of the BHA’s core roles to promote the sport and attract new people. This is an important role, which Alan will take on until the new position is filled. He will assume immediate responsibility for overseeing our public relations and communications teams, in addition to his current public affairs responsibilities.

“I have enjoyed working with Alan over the last few months as we have set up the new organisation. He is rightly held in high regard in the sport, having made a substantial contribution throughout a period of great change. The whole team will be sad to see him move on. After nearly 11 years, I can well understand that he would now like to think about other opportunities.”

Delmonte commented: “I have spent over ten years at the heart of the sport I love and to have contributed on so many major issues has been deeply rewarding. The British Horseracing Authority is a ground-breaking development in sport, and I have really enjoyed playing a part in its formation and early initiatives. I know that I will leave on the best of terms and am looking forward to working with a committed team over the coming months to make further progress for racing. But I have decided that this is the time that I want to look for a different challenge.”