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).
12th 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.”
Notes for Editors:
GVS EQ was formed in 2022 by seven partners:
GVS EQ has a strong network of Associates for its clients to draw upon, including:
GVS EQ’s website is at www.gvs-eq.com.
For further information please contact:
Simon Bazalgette, GVS EQ Chair – simon.bazalgette@gvs-eq.com or
Will Lambe, GVS EQ MD – will.lambe@gvs-eq.com
12th 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.”
Notes for Editors:
GVS EQ was formed in 2022 by seven partners:
- Simon Bazalgette was Group CEO of the Jockey Club and Chair of Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR) between 2008 and 2019, and the founding Executive Chairman of Racecourse Media Group between 2004 and 2008. He is the founding Chair of the specialist investment business GVS which is a shareholder in GVS EQ, and chairs GVS EQ;
- Nick Rust OBE ran the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) as CEO between 2015 and 2020, and prior to that had been CEO of Ladbrokes, Coral and SkyBet;
- Sarah Hordern was Joint CEO at Newbury Racecourse between 2008 and 2014, led the successful integrated property development around the racecourse and has since been involved in property and financial projects in various sectors, including the National Health Service;
- Will Lambe worked at the BHA between 2003 and 2021, latterly as Executive Director;
- Richard Lancaster founded Shadwell, one of the world leading breeding and racing operations, for its owner, Dubai’s Sheikh Hamdan, and ran it successfully for more than 20 years;
- David Sykes was BHA Director of Equine Health & Welfare between 2017 and 2021, and previously Chief Veterinary Officer for the Emirates Racing Authority;
- Paul Fisher was CEO of JCR for over a decade, and is the founding CEO of GVS.
GVS EQ has a strong network of Associates for its clients to draw upon, including:
- Professor Tim Morris – ex-Director of Equine Science and Welfare at the BHA for 14 years, and a non-executive director of the UK Government Animal Health and Welfare Board for over 10 years;
- John Ferguson, ex-CEO of Darley/Godolphin;
- Martin Purbrick – ex-Director of Security & Integrity for the Hong Kong Jockey Club;
- Mike Etherington-Smith, ex-CEO for British Eventing and current advisor to the Equine Welfare Board in the UK;
- Rupert Arnold – ex-CEO of the National Trainers’ Federation;
- Spectacle Partners, the reputation and PR comms agency founded by Scott Bowers (ex-Corporate Comms Director for the Jockey Club) and Richard Conway (ex-BBC and Qatar World Cup);
- The Sports Consultancy – full service management consultancy specializing in sport;
- Andrews Bowen, the leading manufacturer and supplier of sporting surfaces, including racetracks, gallops and equestrian arenas;
- Roderick Moore – a barrister with extensive experience of regulatory legal work in the horseracing sector;
- International Venue Management, founded by Rob Quick (ex-Head of Business Development at Jockey Club Services) and Angus Houston (previously MD of Limerick Racecourse and the Ricoh Arena);
- Perspicio Consulting – a specialist property advisor with expertise in enabling developments around public sites such as racecourses and hospitals;
- Liz Price, Journalist and Presenter for Longines, France Galop, Ascot Racecourse etc;
- Neil Phillips – media and racecourse presenter and hospitality expert, known as The Wine Tipster;
- Richard Jaques – marketing expert with experience at JCR, Racing TV, Betfair and Rank;
- Steve Parlett – ex-MD of Kempton Park and Wincanton racecourses;
- Tanya Stevenson, betting expert and TV presenter;
- Tom Manners – ex-Group Director of Sales & Marketing for the Jockey Club, currently Chair of JSC Sports
- James Clifton, ex-Finance Controller for the Jockey Club;
- Mike Goodfellow, an expert in community development in the education & charity sectors;
GVS EQ’s website is at www.gvs-eq.com.
For further information please contact:
Simon Bazalgette, GVS EQ Chair – simon.bazalgette@gvs-eq.com or
Will Lambe, GVS EQ MD – will.lambe@gvs-eq.com
12th FEBRUARY 2024
Press
RELEASE
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.