The restructured BHB Board, marked by an increase in Independent and Executive representation and a reduction in appointees of Industry organisations, is set to hold its first meeting next month.
Subject to Shareholder approval of the revised BHB Articles of Association, the new-look Board will meet on 7th October. The proposals for the restructuring were laid out in BHB’s “The Modernisation of British Racing”, published in June 2004, and are tied in with the separation of BHB’s governance and commercial responsibilities.
Jim McGrath, Managing Director of Timeform and Channel 4 Racing broadcaster, will become the second Independent Director, and BHB Secretary-General Tristram Ricketts will be the second Executive Director, each appointed for three years.
The representation of the four Shareholder Members of BHB – the Industry Committee (Horseracing) Limited, the Jockey Club, the Racecourse Association and the Racehorse Owners Association – will be reduced to one voting Director each from two each (from three in the case of the Jockey Club). Accordingly, Anthony de Freitas (ICHL), Sir Michael Connell (JC), Nigel Clark (JC), and Sir Eric Parker (ROA) will resign from the Board upon the adoption of the new Articles.
John Sanderson will remain on the Board as a non-voting Director, having been nominated by the RCA as its “Expert Practitioner”, to serve for a period of one year. The National Trainers Federation has nominated in a similar capacity its Chief Executive, Rupert Arnold, for three years.
Up to two additional non-voting Directors may also be appointed by the Board under the new structure. The Board has extended the co-option of Race Planning Committee Chairman Adrian Grazebrook until 30th June 2006.
The Board will continue to appoint a nominee of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
BHB Chairman Martin Broughton said: “The restructuring of the Board is a key component of the modernisation programme in British Racing. The additional Independent and Executive Directors and the Expert Practitioners will bring a valuable perspective to the Board and, with the reduction of Industry appointees, I firmly believe that we will have a better balanced Board. This is a further evolution for BHB and a positive step forward for the sport.”
Summary of Changes
Current: 14 Board members, 13 of which are voting
* Chairman (appointed by the Board) Martin Broughton
* 1 Independent Director (appointed by the Board) Baroness Mallalieu
* 1 Executive (appointed by the Board) Greg Nichols (Chief Exec.)
* Appointees of:
Industry Committee (Horseracing) Limited (2) Rhydian Morgan-Jones
Anthony de Freitas
Jockey Club (3) Julian Richmond-Watson
Nigel Clark
Sir Michael Connell
Racecourse Association (2) David Thorpe
John Sanderson
Racehorse Owners Association (2) Chris Deuters
Sir Eric Parker
* 1 Nominee of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association
(appointed by the Board) Philip Freedman
* Plus, up to two co-opted, non-voting Directors
(only one, the Chairman of the Race Planning
Committee, is currently co-opted) Adrian Grazebrook
Restructured: 13 Board members, 10 of which are voting
* Chairman (appointed by the Board) Martin Broughton
* 2 Independent Directors (appointed by the Board) Baroness Mallalieu
Jim McGrath
* 2 Executives (appointed by the Board) Greg Nichols (Chief Exec.)
Tristram Ricketts (Secretary-
General & Company Sec.)
* One Appointee each of:
Industry Committee (Horseracing) Limited Rhydian Morgan-Jones
Jockey Club Julian Richmond-Watson
Racecourse Association David Thorpe
Racehorse Owners Association Chris Deuters
* 1 Nominee of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association
(appointed by the Board) Philip Freedman
* Plus, two Expert Practitioners (Non-voting)
National Trainers’ Federation Rupert Arnold
Racecourse Association John Sanderson
* Plus, up to two co-opted, non-voting Directors
(only one, the Chairman of the Race Planning
Committee, will be co-opted for the time being) Adrian Grazebrook
