Former WRU chief to take the reins of UK racecourses media
ONE of Wales’ leading business figures, Roger Lewis, has been appointed chairman of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which provides media right management to UK racecourses.
The former chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, who is also chairman of Cardiff Airport, had previously been a senior non-executive of RMG, which is the umbrella body for 37 racecourses, including Aintree, York and Ascot.
On behalf of the racecourses, RMG also operates Racing UK, which broadcasts racing in the UK and Ireland every day of the year.
In 2017 it generated revenues of £145.7m, with £91.1m distributed to racecourses.
In addition to 37 UK racecourses, from next January it will represent all 26 Irish racecourses.
Cefn Cribwr-born Mr Lewis will take up a three-year tenure as chairmanship of RMG in January.
Mr Lewis first joined the board in 2012 and will take over as chairman from Simon Ellen.
He brings to his new role extensive experience in promoting sports and entertainment rights – fostering relationships with major broadcasters across Europe and the US – and government relations in a career spanning over 40 years.
A former head of BBC Radio 1, Mr Lewis held managing director roles at EMI, Decca, Classic FM and ITV Wales before moving into sport. He was chief executive of the the WRU from 2005-15.
Mr Lewis said: “The RMG story is a remarkable one and shows what can be achieved via collective enterprise and ownership of content.
“The racecourse shareholders’ commitment to this business and the work of the executive team at RMG means that the company is forecasting to deliver record media licence fees in 2018, payments which are channelled directly back into racing.
“Over the course of my six years on the board, it is clear that the professionalism, experience, insight and horse-racing passion of the executive team at RMG, supported and challenged by strong board, has resulted in the delivery of a highquality racing product.
“I thank and congratulate Simon Ellen for his leadership and friendship over the past six years and for all that he has done for horseracing.
“The RMG business continues to develop as we welcome the content set from all 26 Irish racecourses in 2019. I look forward to working with the RMG executive team and my fellow RMG board members in contributing to the company’s future success.”
Senior RMG non-executive director Simon Bazalgette said: “Roger is an experienced chairman of both public and private companies and brings extensive knowledge of the sports and media industries, so is perfectly positioned to take RMG forward.
Non-executive director Julian Thick added: “Roger has a valuable knowledge and experience of the media rights sector and the international nature of sport and, above all, he has a real passion for the RMG business.
“The board is greatly looking forward to working under his chairmanship.”