Racecourse Association announces new CEO

"I am delighted and honored to be joining the RCA at such an important time in the evolution of the sport," David Armstrong commented

2019-01-21

United Kingdom

Reading time 1:24 min

The Racecourse Association (RCA) has confirmed the appointment of David Armstrong as its new Chief Executive.

Following a thorough recruitment process led by the RCA’s Nominations Committee, David stood out as the first-choice candidate thanks to an outstanding CV with senior roles across the sporting and leisure sectors throughout his career to date. David will take up the position full time from Monday 11th March 2019.

David will retain his positions as Chairman of Pentathlon GB, Non-executive Director of Wasps Holdings and Advisory Board member at Oakwell Capital.

David’s most recent role was as Group Chief Executive of Wasps Holdings where David oversaw the club’s transition to becoming the largest rugby club in the world (by revenue). Starting with the acquisition of the Ricoh Arena, David played an integral part in developing the traditional rugby business model by supplementing the club with a substantial conference & events and entertainment businesses (both indoor and outdoor), an onsite hotel (Double Tree by Hilton) and a major Casino (operated by Grosvenor).

Prior to Wasps, David undertook senior positions with PepsiCo, Compass Group, Diageo and Lonrho, providing a broad overview of global leisure and retail markets.

No stranger to the world of horseracing, David previously enjoyed time as an owner with William Muir.

RCA Chairman Maggie Carver commented "I am delighted to welcome David Armstrong as Chief Executive of the RCA and to the sport of horseracing. David brings extensive and valuable experience across the sports and leisure industries as well as a background in finance.

I am confident David will be a vital asset in the future development of racecourses as well as the sport as a whole. The full RCA team is looking forward to welcoming him and to working together."

David Armstrong commented "I am delighted and honored to be joining the RCA at such an important time in the evolution of the sport. I hope I can bring my varied experiences from across the sporting landscape to bear in developing our racecourses and the sport in general. I’m also excited to be joining such a strong Board under Maggie’s leadership and getting my sleeves rolled up!"