British Cycling has opened applications for a new chief executive to replace Ian Drake who will leave in April after a 20 year career with the organisation.
The sport’s governing body has specified that it is looking for “an outstanding leader who will harness full responsibility for driving business growth, increased participation and ensuring effective governance of an internationally renowned sporting organisation”.
British Cycling is looking for a “highly visible” leader who will “inspire the delivery of world class performance in all areas”.
The candidate brief states that the ideal post holder will be “an exceptional board level executive who has created a high performing consumer focused business, achieved financially sustainable growth and has a track record of ensuring first class service delivery to multiple stakeholders.
Commenting on the role, British Cycling’s president Bob Howden said: “It’s a very exciting time for British Cycling with a ground-breaking partnership with HSBC UK beginning next year and the start of a fresh four year cycle in the run up to Tokyo. The organisation’s membership is at 130,000 – its highest ever level – and the appetite for cycling shows no signs of slowing.
“This is an incredible opportunity for an innovative, inspirational leader to come on board and drive further results across all levels of the sport.”
Have you got what it takes to be the new Chief Exec?
Chief executive | British Cycling
The chief executive will be an outstanding leader who will harness full responsibility for driving business growth and ensuring effective governance of an internationally renowned sporting and recreational organisation.
Highly visible, they will lead a comprehensive strategy to develop the brand and inspire the delivery of world class performance across the organisation to meet British Cycling’s ambition to become the most successful sport and activity in Britain. For further information and details on how to apply please download the job advert and candidate brief below:
Reporting to: Chair and the board
Location: Manchester
Direct Reports: Chief operating officer, performance director, executive assistant
To provide strategic direction and develop the activities of the British Cycling Federation and represent the Federation’s interests at all levels.
The chief executive will be responsible for the delivery and implementation of the strategic plan, through clear and decisive leadership and sound business judgement to ensure the overall success,
growth and business efficiency of British Cycling.
Remuneration:
Six figure basic salary
Benefits package
5 thoughts on “Have you got what it takes to be next British Cycling Chief Exec?”
I’ll do it if no one else
I’ll do it if no one else wants to.
The way the world is going, I
The way the world is going, I’m putting a bet down on Kim Kardashian.
More seriously, why does this position command a six-figure salary? Surely anyone can live very comfortably in Manchester for half the implied minimum. British Cycling has already signed up their sponsor for the next eight years, so no fellatio of evil businessmen is required. They say they’re paying for someone to “inspire” delivery, yet the people who will be on the receiving end of this inspiration, doing the actual work, are paid the absolute minimum. For example, there is a Programmes Officer vacancy also currently being adverted on their web site for a paltry, below national average £19,500p.a.
handlebarcam wrote:
I’m not saying it’s right, but to get anything done in City Hall I’d wager you need to know and have some influence over a shit load of people (press especially), or be a popular public face of some description. Most of these people cost serious wedge.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if a Boardman or Hoy (yes please) took it on. Can’t see the Standard or Mail etc running so much bullshit with Sir Chris behind it. Fat chance I guess though.
I don’t agree that the Chris
I don’t agree that the Chris’s would necessarily be good.
Then again my response is Yes! – I think a lot of people who are sensible decent types could do this job, no I don’t think it needs lots of high faluting connections. ‘Gis us a job’!!!
I do hope they get someone who moves BC on and keeps it carrying on to being the great cycling body it has and better!
handlebarcam wrote:
Serious answer: because this job isn’t running a cycling club or a bike shop.
British Cycling is a big business: millions of pounds in revenue from sponsorship, membership and events; thousands of staff; a responsibility to find and grow the next generation of elite talent under the close scrutiny of national and international media, bloggers and a million Twitter experts, and the responsibility to grow grass-roots participation. There are also big questions over the governance, ethics and culture of the organisation which the CEO will need to respond to.
Sure, the HSBC funding is agreed for the moment but don’t think HSBC won’t have a break clause if they don’t start to see the benefits from it; the governmental funding is probably safe for the moment but can’t be taken for granted if the medals dry up. That requires a certain level of corporate lobbying and negotiation experience in order to be taken seriously. These people do not necessarily come cheaply because most of them could earn much more money in a ‘real’ job.
So… while we’d all like to think we could have a bash at it for that amount of money, could you really make a good job of it? (Perhaps you could.) I think people such as Boardman (and perhaps Hoy, Cooke, Pendleton, Pooley) might do an excellent job in campaigning, figurehead, mentor or coaching roles, you need an experienced corporate manager to manage the business. Let’s not have cycling make the mistakes that football does by employing “football people” in “business” roles; but this needn’t mean that you have to have some faceless suit who doesn’t care about cycling.
Happily there is no shortage of business people in this country with suitable profile and skills who are serious cycling fans. Someone like John Caudwell and of course there are many others.