Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the parent company of Racing UK, has appointed Simon Ellen to its Board of Directors. 

Ellen brings to the (Non Executive) role 30 years of experience in investment banking and capital markets through senior roles with major UK investment banks, before moving into asset management and insurance. He has subsequently chaired a number of companies owned, largely, by private equity investors.

He joins Independent Non Executive Chairman Will Wyatt, CEO Richard FitzGerald, and Non Executives Simon Bazalgette (Jockey Club Racecourses), Bill Farnsworth and John Sanderson (representing smaller independent courses), and Sarah Horden (representing larger independent courses) on the RMG Board.  Ellen begins his role on June 30.

Racecourse Media Group is the umbrella organisation for the 30 Racecourses which hold an interest in Racing UK, Turf TV and GBI Racing. 

Also a racehorse owner, Ellen said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of RMG at this point in the development of the business, and after the Board and management team have made such significant progress in optimising the media assets of their stakeholder racecourses.”

On Ellen’s appointment, RMG Chairman Wyatt commented: “Simon is an experienced chairman of PLCs and private companies and boasts extensive knowledge of the sports industry.

“While he chaired SBJ Group, it had one of the largest sports books of any UK insurance broking business with clients that included the majority of British racecourses, as well as the FA, Premier League and Football League, so he has a strong affinity with the sector and we look forward to his input into our future growth.”