Ex-Ladbrokes Coral boss Jim Mullen revealed as new Jockey Club CEO

Former Ladbrokes Coral chief executive, Jim Mullen, has been announced as the new CEO of British horse racing firm, The Jockey Club. 

The news ends a 10-month wait to install a new permanent chief, following Nevin Truesdale’s departure in 2024. 

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Mullen — who has now stepped down as CEO from UK news outlet, Reach plc — will replace interim CEO, Charlie Boss, from 1 June. 

As the head of Reach, Mullen oversaw several dominant news magazines for over five years, including the Mirror, Daily Star, Daily Record and the Daily Express. 

His experience at the helm of the multi-brand enterprise is expected to smoothen the transition to the Jockey Club; the group owns 15 racecourses and employs more staff than any other commercial racing organisation. 

Mullen is also an accomplished leader in the gambling industry, having stood as Ladbrokes Coral group chief executive, Ladbrokes digital managing director and William Hill Online COO. 

A fan of the sport and a racehorse owner, Mullen outlined his excitement ahead of his impending switch to the Jockey Club in a press release:

“While the Jockey Club will be known to many as one of the most prestigious and established organisations in British sport, it is also a forward-thinking and exciting business with its focus firmly on the future. 

“As a lifelong horse racing fan who has spent some of the best days of my life on racecourses, I could not be more proud to join the Jockey Club’s passionate and dedicated team through what I hope will be an exciting new chapter.”

Mullen also squashed any doubts concerning his appointment, noting the similarities between duties at Reach and the Jockey Club: 

“Publishing and horse racing might appear to be two very different industries on the surface. However, they share a focus on providing value and quality for the customer while nurturing happy and motivated teams across multiple sites and I am passionate about delivering both. 

“I would like to thank all my colleagues at Reach for their hard work and all that has been achieved together over the past six years. I now look forward to forging new relationships in horseracing and renewing others developed during my time in the gambling industry.” 

In a public statement on the soon-to-be CEO’s arrival, Baroness Dido Harding, senior steward of the Jockey Club, lauded Mullen’s steep experience as a leader: 

“I am delighted to welcome a leader of Jim’s calibre and experience as our next group chief executive. He has a long and distinguished track record of delivering strong growth in the publishing and gambling sectors and is also familiar with the complexities of the British racing industry, its structure and challenges, as well as the very many opportunities we have to broaden our fan base. 

“Jim will bring with him a wealth of experience and expertise, while also being a racing fan at heart who is passionate about promoting the sport and the incredible experiences we are able to offer our customers.” 

Mullen's appointment precedes the Grand National, a major three-day racing event held at the Jockey Club-owned Aintree Racecourse. Although he will watch the famous steeplechase from afar, a busy summer period beckons when he takes over in June.