Holdaway To Leave Women In Sport
Ruth Holdaway is to step down as Chief Executive of Women in Sport after five and a half years, the charity has announced.
The prominent campaigner for women’s sport will move to Australia this summer, having been appointed the first female Chief Executive of Tennis Victoria.
Holdaway has overseen a significant rebranding and repositioning of Women in Sport since joining the organisation in 2013.
Her achievements include delivering a requirement for more women in leadership roles to be written into the Code of Sport’s Governance; and millions of pounds raised from grant and corporate supporters amid growing understanding of the positive social impact of empowering women and girls through sport.
Jayne Haines, Chair of Women in Sport, said: “Ruth has worked tirelessly for the cause, improving the experience of sport and fitness for women and girls across the country. Ruth has also transformed the charity itself, with a rebrand and new strategy which make our ability have social impact all the stronger.
“Ruth’s successor will be joining us at an exciting time. With great momentum behind the drive for gender equality, there are amazing opportunities ahead to change the culture of the sector so that every woman and girl in the UK can experience the lifelong benefits of sport.”
Holdaway added: “The landscape for women’s sport in the UK has changed dramatically since I started in this role and I feel proud of what Women in Sport has contributed to drive that positive change. However, there is much still to do.
“I’m looking forward to now becoming a female leader in an international sporting arena, and I’ll do everything I can to keep campaigning for women and girls to have equal access to sport and to play leading roles in the sector.
“I wish my successor every success and urge my colleagues across all sports to invest more time, energy and money into sport for women and girls – to ensure we create a society where women and men have equal opportunities.”
A process to appoint Holdaway’s successor will begin in the coming days.
