EFDS Chair appointed among new Sport England board members

The seven– Kate Bosomworth, Ian Drake, David Goldstone, Sally Gunnell, Debbie Jevans, Charles Reed and Mark Spelman – will join Clare Connor, Hanif Malik, Peter Rowley and Sport England Chair Nick Bitel.

Welcoming the new faces to the board, Nick said:

“I am delighted with the high calibre of individuals who are joining us. They will bring considerable expertise to an already experienced board and will help steer the organisation over the coming years. It is a testament to the work of Sport England that we have been able to make such a very impressive set of appointments."

Maria Miller said:

“We have seen an increased sporting enthusiasm across the country following London 2012 and Sport England has a vital role to play in keeping up the momentum; boosting grassroots sport and encouraging even more people to participate. The new board members will help Sport England do exactly that. They bring with them a wealth of experience from different backgrounds and will help ensure that the £1 billion of public money Sport England is investing into community sport makes the biggest possible impact.”

EFDS is delighted to hear of Charles Reed’s appointment to the Sport England Board. Charles has been involved in sport for disabled people for a number of years, both as a funding partner for our Disability Sport Events programme, when he was a Director at Nationwide Building Society, and as a valued volunteer and advocate. He joined EFDS’s Board in 2010 and took over from Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson DBE as our Chair in 2011.

In response to his appointment, Charles said:

“Naturally I am extremely pleased and excited to be joining the Sport England Board. I am looking forward to bringing the experience I have gained through my role as Chair of the English Federation of Disability Sport and using it alongside my broader corporate experience. Having always been passionate about sport, I am looking forward to playing a full part in developing and growing participation in grass roots sport and physical activity for both disabled and non-disabled people alike.”

Barry Horne, Chief Executive of EFDS, said:

“Charles’ strong personal and professional qualities along with his dedication to sport for disabled people over the years have clearly been recognised by DCMS in making this appointment. He has led EFDS through a period of major improvement and change and I know that the Sport England Board will benefit greatly from his presence. Charles is passionate about sharing the benefits of sport and physical activity. His commitment to inclusion is obvious to all who meet him.”

The new members have been appointed for a three-year term.

Kate Bosomworth

Kate Bosomworth is a communications professional specialising in sport, fitness and well-being, working on a range of sports including the 2010 Ryder Cup, tennis, rugby, running and cycling. Having set up her own agency in 2002, in 2012 she sold the business to Speed Communications where she is now Managing Director. She is a trustee for Disability Sports Coach, a charity which provides sporting opportunities to disabled people.

Ian Drake                                          

Ian Drake joined British Cycling in 1991, becoming Chief Executive in 2008. Under his leadership, he has overseen unprecedented growth in cycling at all levels, with the British elite cycling teams dominating internationally and record numbers of people getting on their bikes regularly. He has also developed partnerships with commercial and public sector organisations alike.

David Goldstone

David Goldstone’s career has involved operating as a senior financial leader and successfully delivering major public and private projects and programmes. He was appointed Chief Finance Officer for Transport for London (TfL) in January 2013 having been the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Finance Director for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games for the previous five years.

Sally Gunnell OBE

Former world record holder and Olympic and World gold medallist, Sally Gunnel is one of Britain’s best-known athletes. She has been involved in promoting sport from grassroots to elite for many years. A broadcaster and speaker, she sits on the board of GLL, a social enterprise providing sport and leisure facilities across the country.

Debbie Jevans CBE

Debbie Jevans has spent her entire career in sport. A former professional tennis player who represented England at junior and senior levels and was Wimbledon Junior Champion in 1978, she worked in sports journalism and consultancy before moving to sports administration. She is currently a director at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the All England Tennis Championship and Chief Executive of England Rugby 2015. She was previously Director of Sport at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and General Secretary of the International Tennis Federation.

Charles Reed

Former Director of Group Communications and Customer Service at Nationwide, Charles Reed ended a successful career in financial services in 2008. In 2010 he joined the board of English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), becoming Chair in 2011. He is also a Trustee of the London Marathon Charitable Trust; a Director of Active Gloucestershire, his local County Sport Partnership; and Chair of the Advisory Board for Cirencester College's Sports Career Academy which helps develop students who are seeking careers in the sports sector.

Mark Spelman

Mark Spelman has been a senior partner at Accenture, a global management consulting practice, for 20 years having joined the business in 1989. He served Vice-Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Executive Council in Brussels for six years and for a decade as a Director and Sponsor of Accenture Development Partnerships, Accenture’s not-for-profit organisation working on skills to succeed. A keen cricketer, he captained Kent County Cricket at under 19 and still plays for Kent over 50.