GVS EQ appoints Will Lambe as MD

David Thorpe, Stephen Wallis, Josh Tuthill and Amanda Piggot added as GVS EQ Associates  and Anna Powell appointed GVS EQ Business Development Manager

They join the Partners of GVS EQ – Simon Bazalgette, Paul Fisher (both ex-Jockey Club), Nick Rust (ex-BHA, Ladbrokes, SkyBet), Sarah Hordern (ex-Newbury Racecourse, RMG), Will Lambe (ex-BHA), Richard Lancaster (ex-Shadwell), David Sykes (ex-BHA and Emirates Racing) – and GVS EQ Associates such as John Ferguson (ex-Darley), Martin Purbrick (ex-HKJC), Rupert Arnold (ex-NTF) and Professor Tim Morris (ex-BHA).

12^th February 2024 – GVS Equestrian Consulting Ltd (GVS EQ), has appointed GVS EQ Partner Will Lambe as Managing Director. It has also expanded its network of associates with the addition of David Thorpe, Stephen Wallis, Josh Tuthill and Amanda Piggot. GVS EQ associate Anna Powell has been appointed as Business Development Manager.

GVS EQ offers specialist consulting services for the global equestrian and gaming sectors. The partners and associates have Board-level experience in, inter alia, governance, media rights, gaming operations, sports administration, breeding, racecourse development, veterinary science, medical services, media and hospitality. It has current client projects in Saudi Arabia, Eastern Europe and South America.

Will Lambe is one of the founding partners of GVS EQ. Now based in Australia, he had almost 20 years’ experience at the BHA in Great Britain, latterly as Executive Director. He was Vice Chair of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation, and sat on a number of international committees under the auspices of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

David Thorpe was most recently the Chair of Arena Racecourse Company (ARC), one of the two British racecourse groups, and prior to that was Chair of Racecourse Association, a member of the Levy Board and a Director of the BHB and the BHA. David has spent a life time in technology and services having Chaired or been a Director of both listed and Private Equity companies in these sectors.

Stephen Wallis had a distinguished career at The Jockey Club, stepping down as Group Director of International & Racing Relations in 2023. During his 30+ year career at the Jockey Club he had been Managing Director of major racecourses such as Epsom Downs and Newmarket, and represented the Jockey Club in key racing jurisdictions around the world.

Josh Tuthill is the co-founder of the polo specialists, United Polo Ltd, and had previously been the Director of Sport at the Hurlingham Polo Association, the Governing Body of Polo for the UK and Ireland, with 30 affiliates countries also under its umbrella.

Amanda Piggot is an independent equine regulatory veterinarian. She worked at the BHA between 2015 and 2021, latterly as Head of Equine Welfare and Anti-Doping, and has sat on international panels in the US (Breeders Cup) and in the Middle East. She joins David Sykes and Tim Morris as part of the GVS EQ equine veterinary team.

Anna Powell is one of the founding associates of GVS EQ. Anna has worked predominantly for two leading governing bodies, France Galop and the British Horseracing Authority.  She led a variety of start-ups on behalf of the horseracing industry; British Bloodstock Marketing and Great British Racing International facilitating foreign investment into the sport; and Racing Together and Together for Racing International to strengthen racing’s social impact.

Simon Bazalgette, founding Chair of GVS EQ said: “GVS EQ is rapidly becoming known as the go-to global specialist in all aspects of horseracing, equestrian sports, betting and gaming. Having Will Lambe as MD and Anna Powell as Business Development Manager marks a key step in ensuring a high quality service for our expanding client base. The addition of David Thorpe, Stephen Wallis, Josh Tuthill and Amanda Piggot further enhances the depth of top level experience we can offer to our international clients.

“David and I were competitors and collaborators as the Chairs of JCR and ARC, representing half the UK racecourses between us. We worked together when I first got involved in horseracing in 2004 and he was the Chair of the RCA.

“I worked with Stephen throughout my 11 years at the Jockey Club, his experience of running the UK racecourses which run four of the five British Classics (Epsom Downs and Newmarket), as well as his long relationship with most of the major racehorse owners around the world, is second to none.

“Josh brings his experience at the epicenter of world polo, demonstrating GVS EQ’s expertise goes well beyond just horseracing, and we have already worked together on plans for an equestrian centre in Saudi Arabia.

“Amanda enhances the GVS EQ veterinary team, she is a respected expert in her field with experience not just from her time at the BHA in the UK, but also with the Breeders Cup and in the Middle East.

“I am pleased to be welcoming all of them to the GVS EQ network, alongside the existing associate network of industry luminaries, and look forward to working with them on a range of projects around the world.”