Jockey Club Announce Chairman Designate of HRA

Published: 18 November 2004

Jockey Club announce Chairman designate of HRA

Despite the delay in establishing the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA) due to the uncertainty over future funding arrangements, the Jockey Club today announced the appointment of John Bridgeman as Chairman designate and Ben Gunn as one of the independent directors of the prospective regulatory authority. These appointments have been made following consultation with the BHB, the Levy Board and DCMS.

In light of the decision to postpone the transfer of regulation to HRA, it was also announced that the Regulatory Board of the Jockey Club is to be reconstituted to enable the three prospective independent directors to be appointed to the Board. John Bridgeman and Ben Gunn will join the Regulatory Board in January and a third will follow suit as soon as he has been selected.

Julian Richmond-Watson, Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, said: “We are delighted that John Bridgeman has accepted the position of Chairman of HRA. He has also been very understanding about the issues which currently stand in the way of the transfer of regulation. In the meantime, we are committed to maintaining the process of evolution towards an independent authority and I look forward to both John and Ben Gunn joining the Regulatory Board in January.”

John Bridgeman, 60, has over 15 years international experience in Regulation and Consumer Affairs and has a particular interest in the sporting and broadcasting sectors. He is currently Chairman on the Direct Marketing Authority and the Standards Committees of Warwickshire County Council and the Warwickshire Police Authority. He also sits as a non executive director of a number of private and public organisations.

He served for 6 years on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and 5 years as Director General of Fair Trading at the time of the introduction of the 1998 Competition Act. He left OFT in 2000. He has worked closely with the European Commission and a number of national regulatory authorities and has been involved with matters relating to Horseracing, Soccer, Rugby Union, Cricket and Formula One Racing and to satellite and terrestrial broadcasting.

Formerly John Bridgeman had a successful international business career. After working in Britain, Canada, Australia and Germany he became Director of Strategy for the Alcan Aluminium Group in Montreal before returning to the UK as Managing Director of British Alcan Aluminium plc. He is a graduate in Chemistry and an Honorary Fellow of University College Swansea.

Ben Gunn, formerly Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire, is currently Chairman of the Jockey Club’s Security and Investigations Committee which oversees the operations of the Security Department.

Notes for Editors:

1. As from 1st January 2005, the Regulatory Board of the Jockey Club will be reconstituted and those persons identified as prospective independent directors of HRA will be appointed to the Regulatory Board. The Board will then be as follows:

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman }
Andrew Merriam } The Jockey Club
Sir Michael Connell }
Michael Henriques }

John Bridgeman }
Ben Gunn } Independent
A N Other }