Lord Allen of Kensington Appointed as New Chair of the British Horseracing Authority

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has appointed Lord Allen of Kensington as its new Chair, a role he will officially take on June 1, 2025.

Lord Allen brings a wealth of experience across multiple sectors, including financial, commercial, government, broadcast, and international sports events. His distinguished career includes overseeing London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics, where he also served as Board Director on the organizing committee. In sports, he currently chairs and serves as a trustee for the Invictus Games Foundation and previously chaired the Manchester Commonwealth Games from 2000 to 2003.

Within the UK government, Lord Allen has held significant roles, including Chief Advisor to the Home Office and Chairman of the Management Board for Ed Miliband's Labour Party. In the media and entertainment industry, he has contributed to leading organizations such as Granada TV, EMI, Virgin Media, and Endemol, and currently serves as Chairman of Global Media and Entertainment Limited.

The BHA also announced that Julie Harrington, Chief Executive, will step down by the end of 2024. Until June, Lord Allen will work alongside the current Chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, to ensure a smooth transition.

Beyond horseracing, Lord Allen has held roles as Advisory Chairman to Moelis & Company, Chairman of Balfour Beatty PLC, and Chairman of e-commerce retailer THG.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the position, Lord Allen stated:

“I am honored to be appointed to the role of Chair of the British Horseracing Authority at this important time for the organization. I look forward to building a strong relationship with the new CEO, the Board, and all our stakeholders, delivering the vision of building the commercial and reputational aspects of the sector. My love of horses stems from learning to ride as a youngster and enjoying the sport of horseracing over many years. My knowledge, skills, and experience from various sectors, including media and entertainment, and having led many regulated and sporting organizations, will hopefully stand me in good stead to bring a fresh perspective to this incredible sport.”

David Jones, Chair of the BHA Nominations Committee and Senior Independent Director, added:

“Lord Allen is a very experienced Chairman, and I am delighted that we have appointed a candidate of such outstanding calibre. His record speaks for itself, and his impressive leadership skills, financial and commercial acumen, broadcast experience, and understanding of Government will bring a fresh and independent perspective to the BHA’s work. Combined with his wealth of experience in global sporting events, Lord Allen impressed the committee with his perceptive grasp of the challenges facing racing and will be a powerful advocate for the sport.”