The Jockey Club has today announced that Charlie Boss has been appointed Interim Group Chief Executive.
Boss, who was Chief Commercial Officer at The Jockey Club between March 2021 and April 2023 and went on to take up the same role at Southampton Football Club, will rejoin the organisation on December 9th before taking over from Nevin Truesdale on an interim basis from December 19th.
The Jockey Club announced in June that Nevin Truesdale would be leaving at the end of 2024 after 11 years at the organisation, having asked the Board of Stewards to start the process of finding his successor.
Senior Steward, Baroness Dido Harding, said: “We are delighted to welcome Charlie back to The Jockey Club as Interim Group Chief Executive.
“He did an outstanding job as a member of The Jockey Club’s Executive team, which led the organisation through the unprecedented challenges of COVID 19, and those who worked with him will know him to be an extremely talented and high energy commercial leader.
“His deep understanding of The Jockey Club, our teams and the opportunities and challenges that we and the wider sport face will allow him to really hit the ground running. As a result, he is ideally placed to lead the Executive team and the wider business through our biggest events of the year at Cheltenham and Aintree.”
Explaining the need for an Interim CEO, Baroness Harding continued: “The role of Chief Executive of The Jockey Club is unique in British racing. It requires a broad range of expertise to run what is not only the largest commercial organisation and employer in horseracing in the UK, but also a 274 year old membership organisation which aims to support the long term future of British racing and in doing so provide the very best for a hugely diverse customer base, from participants and owners to racing fans and the local communities we operate in.
“We have always been clear that finding the right person for the role was the most important priority, rather than appointing by a certain date. We are making good progress in this search but with most senior leaders at this level having substantial notice periods, appointing an interim CEO ensures that the organisation has clear leadership in place as we go into the busiest time of the year.”
Thanking Truesdale for his ongoing dedication to his role, Baroness Harding added: “When Nevin informed us of his intention to step down as Group Chief Executive he made it very clear that he wished to leave at the end of December.
“Over the past five months Nevin has continued to demonstrate strong leadership as well as an unwavering passion and commitment which has been a hallmark of more than 11 successful years at The Jockey Club and for that the Board of Stewards are tremendously grateful. It would not have been fair on Nevin to ask him to stay beyond the timeframe which was previously agreed and he leaves with all our thanks and very best wishes.”
Boss, who is also a Board Trustee of London Sport and sits on the Sports Steering Group of the NSPCC, has worked across a variety of sectors, including running Disney’s sports businesses in Europe and Africa and in senior brand and marketing roles at the Rugby Football Union and the Football Association. He was also a Board Member of pool betting operator Britbet during his time at The Jockey Club.
Speaking about his appointment, Boss said: “For me, racing remains a cherished and important part of British life. Not only is it an industry which contributes more than £4billion to the British economy, it is the UK’s second most attended sport.
“My time as Chief Commercial Officer at The Jockey Club was one of the most enjoyable, challenging and rewarding of my career and I am both proud and excited to be returning to The Jockey Club as Interim Group Chief Executive.
“I very much look forward to working with The Jockey Club’s fantastic teams again and with stakeholders across the sport, some of whom I already know and others I am yet to meet.”
