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FA's Julie Harrington appointed British Cycling's new CEO

She is currently responsible for Wembley Stadium and St George's Park at English football's governing body...

Julie Harrington, currently group operations director at the Football Association, has been appointed the new CEO of British Cycling.

She replaces Ian Drake, who left cycling's national governing body in January, three months earlier than expected.

> British Cycling CEO Ian Drake leaves post "with immediate effect" as investigations into organisation continue

She has been with the FA since 2011 where she is responsible, among other things, for running Wembley Stadium in northwest London and the St George's Park National Football Centre in Staffordshire.

Harrington's is the second senior appointment at British Cycling in as many months, with Jonathan Browning taking over as chair from Bob Howden, who remains president, early last month.

The new CEO joins at a turbulent time for the organisation, with next month due to see the publication of what is expected to be a scathing report from the independent review ordered by UK Sport, following allegations of bullying and discrimination and UK Anti-doping looking into the mystery medical package delivered to Team Sky at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine.

“I am thrilled to be asked to lead British Cycling as it embarks on a new chapter in its history," Harrington said.

"This is the right time to be joining one of this country’s leading governing bodies. British Cycling already has a fantastic track record of using elite success to inspire millions of people to get active by getting on their bikes and is now setting its sights on new ambitions and a new way of working.”

Browning said: “In appointing Julie, I am delighted that we have found someone with exactly the right mix of skills to lead British Cycling as we embark on a period of significant change.  

“Julie has substantial experience at the top level of sport and I am confident that she will excel in what is a landmark and exciting appointment for British Cycling. Her background in sport and commercial partnerships will prove vital in delivering our joint vision with HSBC UK to make cycling the number one sport and activity of choice in Britain.

"I am confident she will help us achieve our goal of becoming a world class governing body.”

Before joining the FA, she spent nine years as operations director of the Northern Racing Group, and she remains a non-executive director of the British Horseracing Authority.

Previously, she worked in marketing for a variety of blue-chip names in the hospitality sector.
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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16 comments

Avatar
the little onion | 7 years ago
2 likes

Comes from the FA you say? I would hardly say that football's governing bodies have been shining examples of transparency, efficacy and good ethics.

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peted76 | 7 years ago
2 likes

There's nothing like sitting on the fence sometimes, and there is nothing like sitting on the fence in this thread.

 

*Gets some popcorn* 

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Valbrona | 7 years ago
0 likes

In this new age of British Cycling performance objectives will become less important and instead the success of the organization will be measured in terms of how 'inclusive' it is.

British Cycling might even aspire to become like that wrestling association in the US. The one where a transgender girl recently won a state competition: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/transgender-wrestler-te...

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
5 likes

Marxist hegemony!!

 

Ahaha.. ahh I'm cracking up 

 

The swivel-eyed shit that you could only possibly say with a keyboard.

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Valbrona | 7 years ago
0 likes

This is fantastic news in terms of diversity and destroying the male dominated world of British cycling in which women have felt like second class citizens for too long. She will no doubt bring a lot to the job, including plans to increase the participation of minority ethnics and transgender individuals in the sport of cycling.

Avatar
dottigirl replied to Valbrona | 7 years ago
3 likes

Valbrona wrote:

This is fantastic news in terms of diversity and destroying the male dominated world of British cycling in which women have felt like second class citizens for too long. She will no doubt bring a lot to the job, including plans to increase the participation of minority ethnics and transgender individuals in the sport of cycling.

*blinks* Someone's made an early start on the happy juice tonight? 

British Cycling Newsletter wrote:

 Dear dottigirl,

Today we announced Julie Harrington as British Cycling's new CEO who will start with us in May.

She comes to us with an extensive palmares and we're excited for her to begin working with us. She is currently the Football Association's group operations director responsible for running both Wembley Stadium and St George's Park in addition to women's and development team games away from Wembley. Prior to this, she spent nine years with the Northern Racing Group as operations director, and she's also worked in senior marketing roles for blue chip leisure organisations such as British Airways, Whitbread, Carlsberg-Tetley and Allied Domecq.

As we embark on a new chapter in our history, we will be extending a warm welcome to her as she walks through our doors in May.

I am delighted that she will be joining us and bringing with her the right mix of skills to lead us through a period of significant change.

Best regards,

Jonathan Browning

I don't share your optimism yet, I'm afraid. She looks like she's wearing a tracksuit in the shot they've used. Not sure why/who chose that.

 

Avatar
davel replied to dottigirl | 7 years ago
1 like
dottigirl wrote:

Valbrona wrote:

This is fantastic news in terms of diversity and destroying the male dominated world of British cycling in which women have felt like second class citizens for too long. She will no doubt bring a lot to the job, including plans to increase the participation of minority ethnics and transgender individuals in the sport of cycling.

*blinks* Someone's made an early start on the happy juice tonight? 

British Cycling Newsletter wrote:

 Dear dottigirl,

Today we announced Julie Harrington as British Cycling's new CEO who will start with us in May.

She comes to us with an extensive palmares and we're excited for her to begin working with us. She is currently the Football Association's group operations director responsible for running both Wembley Stadium and St George's Park in addition to women's and development team games away from Wembley. Prior to this, she spent nine years with the Northern Racing Group as operations director, and she's also worked in senior marketing roles for blue chip leisure organisations such as British Airways, Whitbread, Carlsberg-Tetley and Allied Domecq.

As we embark on a new chapter in our history, we will be extending a warm welcome to her as she walks through our doors in May.

I am delighted that she will be joining us and bringing with her the right mix of skills to lead us through a period of significant change.

Best regards,

Jonathan Browning

I don't share your optimism yet, I'm afraid. She looks like she's wearing a tracksuit in the shot they've used. Not sure why/who chose that.

 

I got the same email. I don't think I share Browning's definition of 'extensive palmares'. I don't think that's a tracksuit.

I do think BC is now run by marketing wonks, and I can look forward to emails telling us it's raining while they piss on my head, at least until my membership lapses (hurry up, ffs).

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Cliff Matthews | 7 years ago
0 likes

Don't see any mention of cycling in her CV though she apparently has an impressive palmares according to the British Cycling newsletter. I would have thought there would be a woman with business acumen somewhere who also demonstrates a passion for cycling. Otherwise this is just the appointment of another suit.

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handlebarcam replied to Cliff Matthews | 7 years ago
1 like

Cliff Matthews wrote:

I would have thought there would be a woman with business acumen somewhere who also demonstrates a passion for cycling.

Nicole Cooke has an MBA. But then it isn't what you know, or how ethical you are, it's who you know, and how prepared you are to brown-nose sponsors like HSBC.

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Valbrona replied to handlebarcam | 7 years ago
0 likes

handlebarcam wrote:

Nicole Cooke has an MBA. But then it isn't what you know, or how ethical you are, it's who you know, and how prepared you are to brown-nose sponsors like HSBC.

The important roles in public bodies are these days being given to those individuals who show the most enthusiasm for the new Marxist hegemony of 'diversity'. And if that person is a woman or is BME or is homosexual, well then that increases their chance of getting an important job hugely.

In this new world, the fact that the new head of British Cyling might not know the slightest thing about cycling ... doesn't matter.

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to Valbrona | 7 years ago
3 likes

Valbrona wrote:

handlebarcam wrote:

Nicole Cooke has an MBA. But then it isn't what you know, or how ethical you are, it's who you know, and how prepared you are to brown-nose sponsors like HSBC.

The important roles in public bodies are these days being given to those individuals who show the most enthusiasm for the new Marxist hegemony of 'diversity'. And if that person is a woman or is BME or is homosexual, well then that increases their chance of getting an important job hugely.

In this new world, the fact that the new head of British Cyling might not know the slightest thing about cycling ... doesn't matter.

makes you wonder why you don't see more paraplegic African lesbian satanists in positions of power really

Avatar
handlebarcam replied to Valbrona | 7 years ago
1 like

Valbrona wrote:

handlebarcam wrote:

Nicole Cooke has an MBA. But then it isn't what you know, or how ethical you are, it's who you know, and how prepared you are to brown-nose sponsors like HSBC.

The important roles in public bodies are these days being given to those individuals who show the most enthusiasm for the new Marxist hegemony of 'diversity'. And if that person is a woman or is BME or is homosexual, well then that increases their chance of getting an important job hugely.

In this new world, the fact that the new head of British Cyling might not know the slightest thing about cycling ... doesn't matter.

If this is the standard of your reasoning and discourse then kindly do not use my comments as a jumping off point for your twaddle, you odious little twerp. You had already made your pathetic belief in the utterly discredited conspiracy theory of female and/or minority rule clear in standalone comments, so why you felt the need to restate them attached to mine, I have no idea. Either learn to make your point, such as it is, once and then withdraw with some semblence of good grace, or better yet jog on to Daily Mail web site.

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Jimmy Ray Will | 7 years ago
0 likes

Seems a very cynical appointment to me.

Touch wood she can help install some 21st century professionalism into the organisation. 

 

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dottigirl | 7 years ago
2 likes

[cynic mode]Hope that shes' been appointed on merit and they're not just following a 'how best to combat the sexual discrimination issues' plan. [/cynic mode]

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antonio | 7 years ago
1 like

Interesting, putting horse sense where there was none?

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davel | 7 years ago
3 likes

Thank god there's a president, CEO AND chair... there might be governance issues without all those honchos.

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