The Jockey Club has appointed Scott Bowers as its new director of communications, to succeed John Maxse.
The former horse racing regulator that was founded in 1750 has recruited Bowers from PR agency Weber Shandwick, where he was co-head of sport and worked on contracts with the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics bid and England’s 2018 World Cup bid.
Bowers will take up his post in May. “The Jockey Club has a rich 260-year heritage, but the forward-thinking approach adopted by its leadership team can help racing delight new fans and drive investment in the sport,” Bowers told PR Week.
“Racing has a real opportunity to shape a future in which it appeals to millions more British hearts, from all ages and backgrounds.”
Bowers will report to group chief executive Simon Bazalgette, who described his new PR chief as the “stand-out” candidate to help the organisation “take on the challenge of capturing a broader audience for horse racing”.
No longer responsible for regulation, the Jockey Club is now a commercial organisation whose operation includes the running of 14 racecourses, including Newmarket, Epsom, Aintree and Cheltenham.
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