The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has established a new executive role that will oversee the strategic change of UK racing with its network of stakeholders. 

Titled the Director of Strategy & Change, the executive role will be formally led by Alison Enticknap, who has served as the governing body’s Interim Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs since November 2021.

An expert in racing stakeholder management, public affairs and equine welfare management, Enticknap will lead the BHA’s newly-formed ‘Strategy and Change Department’.

The reorganisation of UK racing’s industry strategy was agreed upon by the BHA, the Racecourse Association (RCA) and Thoroughbred Group (TG) to improve racing’s governance and stakeholder management.

The department of Strategy and Change will be responsible for programme management and planning, including oversight of cross-industry projects, and building capability and capacity in areas such as insights and analysis, and project delivery.

 “The creation of the new Strategy and Change department will be crucial for our sport’s agreed plans to develop a new industry strategy.” – said Joe Saumarez Smith, Chair of the BHA

“I am delighted that we have appointed Alison to lead this department. Her proven leadership ability and capacity to build relationships and drive change will be integral to the success of this work”

The BHA branded Enticknap as the optimal candidate to lead its new unit, having proved her leadership credentials and experienced skillset as Head of Stakeholder and Internal Engagement.

Prior to joining the BHA, Enticknap held a range of public affairs and programme management roles, in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, including roles at T-Mobile, Virgin Atlantic, Powergen, the Natural History Museum and the RSPB. 

“I see this role as a huge opportunity for racing to work together to address our biggest challenges and to seize important opportunities. The prize is enormous if we can collaborate as an industry and get this right,” Enticknap remarked on her new role. 

“I look forward to working across racing, with its wealth of knowledge and expertise, and helping to secure the outcome we all want – a thriving and sustainable sport.” 

The BHA has begun a separate recruitment process for the permanent Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, alongside further roles within the new Strategy and Change Department that will be advertised in the near future.