Shorts: LTA, Loughborough University, F1 Academy

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has confirmed the appointments of William Jackson as its new Chair and Roy Colabawalla as its new President.

William Jackson, Founder and until 2024 Chair of Bridgepoint, will succeed Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch, CBE, who announced his departure in December 2024 after serving since 2018.

Jackson, who has held chair roles at Pret A Manger and MotoGP and is currently Senior Independent Director of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of Wellington College Education, will take up his role after The Championships at Wimbledon in July 2025.

Roy Colabawalla, the current LTA Deputy President since January 2023, will succeed Sandi Procter, whose three-year term concludes at the end of 2025. Colabawalla has volunteered in tennis for over 20 years and is a corporate partner in a regional law firm.

Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said, “We are delighted that William has accepted the role, and I am sure he will prove an excellent Chair as we look to deliver our mission of transforming communities through tennis.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Mervyn who has been an inspirational Chair over the past seven years and has done so much behind the scenes to steer and support the LTA Board.“

Loughborough University has appointed Louise Gear as its new Director of Sport.

Gear, currently Head of Development at the Football Association (FA), brings 30 years of sports industry experience to the role.

During her time at the FA, Gear helped double participation in women’s and girls’ grassroots football and played a key role in the legacy of the Lionesses’ EURO 2022 win. Prior to the FA, she was Assistant Director for Development at the Youth Sport Trust.

In her new role, Gear will oversee strategic development, performance sport, and commercial growth at Loughborough Sport.

Professor Jo Maher, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, Loughborough University, said, “I’m absolutely delighted that Louise will be joining the incredible Loughborough Sport team. Sport is in our DNA and we are proud of the unique sporting ecosystem we have been able to create at the University. Louise brings with her decades of experience working across this sector, as well as the unique insight of what it takes to perform as an athlete and leader at the highest level in sport.”

Louise Gear said, “It is a privilege to be joining Loughborough, the world’s number one university for sport. This opportunity to advance sport at all levels, raise the bar even higher and lead such a talented Loughborough Sport team, is one that excites me immensely.”

More than Equal has become the official Driver Performance & Research Partner of F1 Academy.

The partnership will see More than Equal leverage its expertise in high-performance development and data-driven insights to support F1 Academy’s mission to increase female representation in racing.

Founded by businessman Karel Komárek and former F1 driver David Coulthard, More than Equal is focused on finding and developing the first female Formula 1 World Champion.

The partnership will enhance training support for drivers, including a dedicated physiotherapist and research-driven initiatives.

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy, has also joined More than Equal’s Advisory Board.

Tom Stanton, CEO and Head of Driver Development at More than Equal, said, “This partnership represents a major step forward in creating a clear, data-driven pathway for female drivers.

“By combining More than Equal’s expertise in research and performance with F1 ACADEMY’s commitment to driver progression, we are ensuring that talented young women receive the support they need at every stage of their motorsport journey.”

BBC Studios Productions has gained exclusive access to Red Bull Racing for a new Formula 1 podcast, ‘The Inside Track’.

The podcast will tell the story of the 2025 Formula 1 season with exclusive access to Oracle Red Bull Racing.

Hosted by sports journalist Matt Majendie and F1 enthusiast Rick Edwards, ‘The Inside Track’ will feature behind-the-scenes stories from every race, taking fans inside the drama of the season.

Majendie has been given full access to the Red Bull F1 team and will report from the track, garage, and team’s HQ.

Episodes will be released weekly throughout the 2025 F1 season on YouTube and all podcast platforms.

LaLiga and Bloomsbury Football have expanded their partnership by opening a new site in London.

The new site at Harris Academy St John’s Wood in Northwest London will host 16 teams.

This expansion builds on the existing partnership supported by Fundacion LaLiga and aims to increase football opportunities for young players in the UK.

Former professional footballer Frédéric Kanouté attended the opening to speak to players and media. He highlighted the importance of grassroots football and equal access.

Since launching in mid-2022, the partnership has involved over 200 players, with Bloomsbury Football engaging with over 5,000 young people weekly.

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