Royal Ascot Racecourse has announced the appointment of the first female chief executive since the racecource became a company in the 1930's

In an announcement made yesterday, Vivienne Currie MBE has been appointed as the 4th CEO of this prestigious racecourse and royal venue.

The role will be succeeding Guy Henderson who will retire on June 30 after his 8th Royal Meeting as CEO and tenure of Ascot Racecourse.

As Chief Executive of Hamilton Park Racecourse since 2008, Vivian has built up a reputation for developing a wider commercial focus and diversifying the venue into the award-winning venue it is today.

During her time at Hamilton Park Racecourse she became a non-Executive Director of the Racecourse Association (2010 – 2016) which included four years as Vice Chair, and a Members’ Nominated Director of the British Horseracing Authority (2016 - 2019).

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Of her new appointment, Vivien said: “I am delighted to have been chosen as the next Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse and to be joining the team for what will be a very exciting year ahead.

Bracknell News:

“This role is a culmination of all the experiences I have had in my professional career to date and I am looking forward enormously to working with Guy in the build up to Royal Ascot in June.”

Starting out as a chartered accountant, Vivien spent 12 years with Ernst & Young and subsequently worked for Damovo, graduating to the role of Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Solutions. She then moved into football as Chief Executive of Livingston FC, sitting on the Scottish Football League Management Committee, before moving into racing in her current role.

Sir Francis Brooke Bt., Her Majesty’s Representative and Chairman at Ascot, said:

“Vivien’s career is a compelling combination of strategic, commercial and racecourse management experience. This made her the outstanding candidate for this role, in what was a thorough and wide-ranging search conducted with the help of Spencer Stuart. 

“She is very familiar with the structure of the British racing industry both from the perspective of Hamilton Park and her terms on both the BHA and RCA boards. 

“The whole Board is much looking forward to welcoming her to Ascot.

Royal Ascot marks and delivers it’s Platinum Jubilee this year for which Vivien will work alongside Guy as CEO designate before taking over on June 30 as CEO.