Charlie Boss to rejoin the Jockey Club as interim group chief executive from next month

Charlie Boss is to rejoin the Jockey Club and become its interim group chief executive on December 19 as it searches for a permanent successor to Nevin Truesdale.

Boss, 39, 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.

He is set to be in charge of the Jockey Club for its two major jumps festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring.

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."

The appointment has had to be made following a last-minute hitch finding a permanent successor to Truesdale, who leaves at the end of the year.

The Racing Post reported this week that the Jockey Club had identified a candidate from the US as Truesdale's successor and had been expected to announce their appointment. However, that candidate is believed to have had an 11th hour change of heart, leaving the Jockey Club having to find an alternative plan.

Baroness Dido Harding: "Finding the right person for the role was the most important priority"Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Harding did not reference recent events, but described the Jockey Club chief executive's job as being "unique in British racing".

She added: “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." 

Boss's previous roles include running Disney’s sports businesses in Europe and Africa and 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. 

He said: "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." 

The Jockey Club launched its search for a new chief executive in July, conducted by headhunters Egon Zehnder, with six strategic priorities set out for the successful candidate.

They included "returning the core racing business to profitable growth", "realising the full potential from the group's substantial property portfolio", and working "to build sustainable national and international media and betting revenues".

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