Our Executive

Jim took up his role as Group Chief Executive on June 1st 2025, having joined from Reach plc, the largest commercial news publisher in the UK and Ireland, where he had been Chief Executive since 2019.

A horseracing fan and racehorse owner, Jim was Group Chief Executive of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc between March 2015 and March 2018, having previously been Managing Director of Ladbrokes Digital and Chief Operating Officer of William Hill Online. Prior to that he was Digital Strategy Director and Director of Product Management at News International and Director of Digital at Publicis Group.

Charlie was appointed Interim Chief Executive at the end of 2024, having previously held the position of Chief Commercial Officer at The Jockey Club between March 2021 and April 2023. When Charlie left The Jockey Club in 2023 he took up the same role at Southampton Football Club, where he remained until he returned.

A Vice Chair of London Sport, Boss has worked across a variety of sectors, including running Disney’s sports businesses in Europe and Africa and in senior brand and marketing roles at the Rugby Football Union and the Football Association. He was also a Board Member of pool betting operator Britbet during his first spell at The Jockey Club.

Following the arrival of Jim Mullen as Group Chief Executive on June 1st 2025, Charlie is continuing in his role to support and ensure a smooth transition. However, he will take on the role of Chief Executive of Jockey Club Racecourses from September 1st 2025, with those responsible for running all 15 of the Group’s tracks reporting to Charlie, along with The Jockey Club’s supporting commercial, operations and racing teams.

Richard leads The Jockey Club’s Racing Department, responsible for fixture planning, race programme development and maximising commercial returns to reinvest into British Racing.

He was promoted to the role of Group Racing Director in 2010 having previously been Group Racing Manager. He joined The Jockey Club in 2003 having completed the British Horseracing Authority Graduate Development Programme.

Richard represents The Jockey Club on the BHA Fixture and Funding group, HBLB Betting Liaison Group and sits on the BHA Jump Pattern Committee. He also plays a key role on The Jockey Club’s Welfare Strategy Group.

Donal McCabe joined The Jockey Club on 13th October 2025. A distinguished leader in communications and corporate affairs, Donal is widely recognised for his expertise in reputation management and strategic corporate leadership.

He served as Director of Corporate Communications at Ladbrokes from 2013 to 2018, before being appointed Communications Secretary to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace from 2019 to 2022. In recognition of his exceptional service, he was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

Earlier in his career, Donal held senior executive roles, including Director of Corporate Affairs at Railtrack, Director of Corporate Communications at Alliance Boots, and Director of Corporate Communications at Land Securities, the UK’s largest commercial property development and investment company.

A lifelong racing fan, Donal brings to The Jockey Club a rare blend of industry insight, strategic vision, and his proven experience in shaping communications and reputation at the highest level.

Helene leads the HR team and the people and talent agenda at The Jockey Club. She joined in 2021 from M&S where she was Head of HR, responsible for people strategies designed to achieve long-term sustainable business growth through change at the major retailer.

Previously Helene was Head of HR within BT’s Consumer division, which included Brand, Content, Strategy and BT Sport.

She has also worked for BT’s Technology, Service and Operations division, and at both ESPN and ITN.

Stuart is responsible for all aspects of financial strategy, management reporting, risk management and control, IT and Property at The Jockey Club.

He leads the Finance team, which incorporates accounting & reporting, tax, payroll, the shared finance centre and Jockey Club Services. He joined in 2015 as Group Financial Controller.

Previously he was Group Financial Controller at BPP Professional Education having also worked at Alfred McAlpine plc and EY (Ernst & Young).

Stuart represents The Jockey Club on the Boards of Jockey Club Live, Jockey Club Catering and the Employee Pension Scheme.

Guy Lavender joined The Jockey Club as CEO of Cheltenham Racecourse on January 1st, 2025 having previously been CEO and secretary of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) since 2017.

Before taking up his previous position at the MCC, Guy was the London 2012 Director for the South West of England and Managing Director of Wave Hub, a £42m renewable energy project in Cornwall. He subsequently returned to sport as the Chief Executive of Somerset County Cricket Club, where he enjoyed a six-year tenure.

In addition, he is a lifelong racing enthusiast and since 2022 has been a Committee Member at Exeter Racecourse, which is also part of The Jockey Club family.