Racecourse Media Group names Russell Ferris as managing director
Ferris joins the horseracing media rights group from Weatherbys.
UK.- Racecourse Media Group, the body responsible for the media rights of 61 racecourses in Britain and Ireland, has announced the appointment of Russell Ferris as its new managing director. He currently serves as CEO of the horseracing organisation Weatherbys, which is involved in racing administration, data management and pedigree research.
Ferris will take up the role on August 18. He has more than 20 years of senior management and directorial experience in horseracing, having served as managing director of Limerick Racecourse, general manager at the stud farm Scarvagh House Stud and director of Ireland for the horsracing channel At The Races. He joined Weatherbys Ireland in 2016 and was promoted to the position of Weatherbys Group CEO three years later.
RMG CEO Nick Mills said: “Russell is highly regarded within the industry and will bring a wealth of expertise, experience and enthusiasm to RMG. Russell will oversee and further align the Commercial and Broadcast departments and help take the business to new levels in terms of innovation, engagement and revenues. I very much look forward to welcoming Russell to RMG in August.”
Ferris, who is also a non-executive director on the boards of Racing Digital and Venture Bio, said: “I am delighted to be joining a great team at RMG and very much looking forward to the new challenge. RMG play a pivotal role within the industry both domestically and internationally, and I am excited by the company’s vision to further enhance the sport’s appeal, reach and engagement to ensure a bright future for all.
“I’d like to thank the Weatherbys family for the opportunity provided to me. It has been fantastic to see the business develop and diversify in recent years, and I know that I leave it in great hands with Sharon O’Regan and a talented team across the business.”
The news comes after The Jockey Club named former Ladbrokes-Coral chief executive Jim Mullen as its new group CEO. Mullen will take the reins from interim CEO Charlie Boss in June. He led Ladbrokes-Coral from March 2015 to March 2018 and previously worked as chief operating officer and international director at William Hill. He is currently CEO of the news publisher Reach.
