British Rowing Appoints Director Of Innovation

British Rowing has appointed Helen Rowbotham as its director of innovation, joining in early January 2016.

Currently Rowbotham is director of consulting at CSM Strategic, the consulting team within the sports and entertainment division of Chime Communications.

Helen has spent 17 years in the sports and events industry, delivering projects both in the UK and internationally for local, city and national government organisations.

Her experience includes strategic reviews of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Paralympic Games, feasibility and bidding projects, including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and working on facility development projects such as the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

“I am extremely excited and proud to be joining British Rowing. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in consulting and have worked on a wide range of exciting projects with fantastic clients but I feel the time is right for a new challenge,” Helen commented.

“In a rapidly changing sports sector, embracing change and opportunities to innovate, whilst also respecting rowing’s unique heritage will be essential to its continued participation, performance and commercial success.”

Remarking on the appointment, Andy Parkinson, CEO of British Rowing, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be welcoming Helen to British Rowing in this new position. Helen has been hugely successful in delivering change in her previous role and with her understanding of the sector she will be an invaluable asset to British Rowing’s new senior team.

“There are many ideas out there in rowing at the moment and this role will enable British Rowing to have the focus, capacity and expertise to turn ideas into programmes, ensuring long-term sustainability and relevance to the next generation of rowers. Most importantly, Helen will be able to bring her experience to our sport and drive our approach to innovation at all levels. I am very much looking forward to working with her.”