Harding & Dudgeon Join The Jockey Club’s Board
Baroness Dido Harding and Sandy Dudgeon will join the main board of The Jockey Club, which runs many of British horseracing’s events, including the Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby.
Harding (pictured) and Dudgeon have been appointed to The Jockey Club’s Board of ‘stewards’ for three-year terms from 1st January 2018.
Stewards are members of The Jockey Club elected to oversee the performance of the group and ensure The Jockey Club acts for the long-term good of British Racing, which includes reinvesting all profits back into the sport.
Julia Budd, who has been a steward since 2012, has been elected to the position of deputy senior steward, succeeding Andrew Merriam. Budd is the chairman of The Jockey Club’s Epsom Downs Racecourse and was elected a Member of The Jockey Club in 2008. She is a founding partner of international search firm, The Zygos Partnership, and a member of the Government’s Professional and Business Services Council.
Roger Weatherby, senior steward of The Jockey Club said of the appointments: “I would like to congratulate Julia on her appointment as deputy senior steward and thank Andrew for his considerable support in that role. Julia has made an excellent contribution as a steward and I look forward to working with her as the deputy on our Board.
“I am delighted to welcome Dido and Sandy as stewards. We will benefit hugely from their commercial expertise and passion for British Racing as we look to support a bright future for our sport.”
Baroness Harding is the chair of NHS Improvement and former chief executive of TalkTalk Telecom Group plc. Previously she was Sainsbury’s convenience director, having been appointed to Sainsbury’s operating board in March 2008. She joined Sainsbury’s from Tesco plc where she held a variety of senior roles both in the UK and international businesses. Harding’s racing interests include more than 25 career wins as an amateur jockey and owning Cool Dawn, the winner of the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup. She was appointed a Member of The Jockey Club in 2004.
Sandy Dudgeon is head of wealth management for Schroders in Hong Kong. Prior to moving to Hong Kong in 2013 – where he will continue to be based – he was head of business development for Schroders’ private wealth management business, which previously traded as Cazenove Capital Management. He was previously managing director of Thornhill before its acquisition by Cazenove.
Baroness Harding said: “I have been involved in horseracing all my adult life and it is a huge honour and privilege to be appointed a steward of The Jockey Club. British Racing has never been stronger and I look forward to playing my part in helping The Jockey Club and the sport thrive going forward.”
Dudgeon added: “I am delighted to be asked to join The Jockey Club’s Board of stewards. I very much look forward to all that will be involved and hope my experience both in the UK and more recently in Asia will be of some use as we seek to act in the best long-term interests of British Racing.”
Image: ©Getty Images
