Ex-Titanic boss moves to new role heading up racecourse
A FORMER chief executive of Titanic Belfast has been appointed to head up one of the biggest racecourses in the Republic.
Tim Husbands, who led Titanic Belfast from 2011 to 2017, will take up the role of chief executive of Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin in January.
In his most recent leadership role, he was chief executive at Co Mayo tourist attraction Westport House and Hotel Westport.
Mr Husbands spent 16 years as head of city events and venues at Belfast City Council. He also sits on the board of Failte Ireland.
His predecessor at Leopardstown, Pat Keogh, is now in a new role as chief executive of the Curragh Racecourse and Training Grounds in Co Kildare.
Mr Husbands said: “I am delighted to accept the role as chief executive of Leopardstown Racecourse and am really looking forward to working with the team there.
“Leopardstown is a racecourse which showcases the best of Irish racing, and hosts some of the most important racing events in the calendar.
“It is also a popular sports and leisure venue in a vibrant European capital city, and I am looking forward to bringing my experience in venue management to Leopardstown Racecourse.
“The redevelopment of the site, which will be completed next year, will significantly improve Leopardstown as a racing facility and outgoing chief executive Pat Keogh deserves great credit for the job he has done there.”
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said Mr Husbands would bring “an extremely high level of experience in event management and tourism” to the role.