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Jockey Club Racecourses confirms new Regional Directors
07 Aug 2012 | Racenews Newslink Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR), the largest racecourse group in the UK, on Monday announced the appointment of four Regional Directors under a new management structure that will see its 14 racecourses run in four regional clusters, reporting to Paul Fisher, JCR's Group Managing Director.
The new approach is designed to take collaboration between The Jockey Club's racecourses to a new level; making it easier to share best practice, promote a consistent set of Core Values around The Jockey Club brand throughout the Group, increase the effectiveness of sales and marketing to customers regionally and reduce costs.
The Regional Directors appointed are
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South West, with responsibility for Cheltenham, Exeter, Warwick and Wincanton racecourses:
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Ian Renton, currently Managing Director for Arena Leisure
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East, with responsibility for Huntingdon, Market Rasen, Newmarket and Nottingham racecourses:
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Amy Starkey, currently Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses
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North West, with responsibility for Aintree, Carlisle and Haydock Park racecourses:
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John Baker, currently Group Director of Operations for Jockey Club Racecourses
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London, with responsibility for Epsom Downs, Kempton Park and Sandown Park:
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Rupert Trevelyan, currently Managing Director of Epsom Downs
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It is anticipated that Ian Renton will join Jockey Club Racecourses in October. The other Regional Directors will start their new roles in early September, allowing each to ready their regions for us to introduce the new regional structure early in 2013.
Each Regional Director will run a large racecourse and oversee the performance of the two or three other racecourses in their region, supported by General Managers at those locations. Regional Directors will also join the JCR Board.
In the case of the South West and East regions, the Regional Director will be based at Cheltenham and Newmarket respectively, running those 'large' racecourses. The new Regional Directors for the North West and London regions will lead the decision making process on how best to operate those regions.
Paul Fisher, Group Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said:
"I'm delighted we've completed this process with four very strong Regional Directors ready to help take our business forwards, with the support of the talented teams of colleagues we have throughout our Group.
"We have thought carefully about the mix of talent we will have now at regional management level and around the JCR Board table. Regional Directors will not just have an important role to play in their regions; together they will influence the Group's whole approach.
"In Amy, John and Rupert, we have appointed three senior colleagues from within our Group to regional management roles. Each has an excellent track record of success within the business and demonstrated the vision and skill required for their new roles.
"Joining them, we're delighted to welcome Ian Renton back to Jockey Club Racecourses. He will bring a real wealth of experience to the South West region, which includes Cheltenham Racecourse, but we will also benefit from the value he can add across the racecourse group."
Simon Bazalgette, Group Chief Executive of The Jockey Club and Chairman of Jockey Club Racecourses, said:
"On the back of strong results, we believe this is the best time to position the Group for the opportunities and challenges ahead. That's a firm indication that we'll never stand still when we know there are opportunities to do more for British racing.
"This recruitment process is the most extensive we've ever conducted within The Jockey Club and we've been delighted with the calibre of internal and external candidates involved from the racing, sports and leisure industries. I'd like to thank them for their interest, efforts and professionalism throughout."
At this stage, each racecourse will continue to be run by their current Managing Director or General Manager. In addition, The Jockey Club is looking to hire a Group Betting Director and a Group Brand Development Director to capitalise on opportunities within its new structure.
Another role within the new structure saw Stephen Wallis, previously Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, appointed Group Director of International and Racing Relations in January 2012.
Notes:
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial group in racing in Geart Britain. Its interests include:
• Jockey Club Racecourses: Runs a diversified portfolio of 14 racecourses in Great Britain: Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Kempton Park, Market Rasen, Newmarket, Nottingham, Sandown Park, Warwick and Wincanton.
The group stages four of the five 'Classics' of Flat racing (the Derby and the Oaks at Epsom Downs and the 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket), as well as the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National at Aintree.
• Jockey Club Estates: The property and land management company responsible for the management and administration of more than 5,000 acres of land in and around the racing training centres of Newmarket and Lambourn, as well as an extensive property portfolio, including the Jockey Club Rooms.
• The National Stud: Transferred from Government to The Jockey Club in 2008, The National Stud is a commercial thoroughbred breeding enterprise with a commitment to provide training and educational programmes.
• Racing Welfare: A racing charity and company limited by guarantee with The Jockey Club being the sole member. The principal objective of Racing Welfare is to provide help to those in need who work or have worked in the thoroughbred industry, and their dependants.
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