The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has appointed former Molson Coors regional CEO Simon Cox as the governing body’s new chair, stating he has the credentials to provide “exceptional leadership at a critical time for our industry”.
The 58-year-old racehorse owner and breeder, who will take up the post on 1 October, will serve as chair on an initial three-year term following the recommendation of the BHA’s nomination committee.
Cox’s appointment brings an end to the BHA’s search for a replacement for Lord Allen after his six-month stint in the role.
Lord Allen was nominated as chair in November 2024 and officially took on the position in September 2025 but then resigned in March of this year.
BHA senior independent director David Jones was appointed interim chair while the body hunted for a permanent replacement.
Cox’s in-tray will be extensive, with concerns mounting around financial risk assessments (FRAs), calls for gambling advertising bans and the knock-on effects for the sport from UK tax hikes on operators.
When FRAs were first suggested in the 2023 white paper following the review of the Gambling Act 2005, strategic advisory firm Regulus Partners modelled that the policy would cost the horseracing industry around £250m in lost revenue over five years.
Cox has been a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) board of trustees since November 2021.
He also chairs the BHA’s Jump Pattern Committee and is a member of the horseracing industry’s High Quality Horse group. Prior to 1 October, the new chair will resign from all three roles.
Cox, who has owned racehorses for more than 15 years and has four horses currently in training, is also a thoroughbred breeder, with 10 broodmares stationed at Shade Oak Stud.
The BHA praised the incoming chair’s “deep understanding of the British racing and breeding industry”, as well as his “extensive board-level experience and large-scale commercial expertise”.
Cox spent more than three decades in the beer and brewery industry. In 2014, he became European president and CEO at Coors Light, Miller Lite and Carling parent Molson Coors.
His remit then expanded to include Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
The BHA said that Cox would spend the next 10 weeks engaging with stakeholders, planning for the sport’s growth and how to establish collaboration in the industry. The Racing Post first reported Cox had been chosen as BHA chair.
Earlier this month, the newspaper reported that senior industry figures expressed disappointment that former BHB chair Peter Savill was not to be selected for the position.
Speaking on his appointment, Cox said: “It is an honour to be appointed chair of the British Horseracing Authority at such an important moment for racing and breeding.
“I enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the brewing and beverage sector, but horseracing has always been my passion.
“I have been extremely fortunate to be involved in this wonderful sport for many years, during which I have learned a great deal – and contributed a fair amount too, I hope.
“It’s no secret that we face significant challenges and my focus will be on ensuring racing works together to address these, with a particular emphasis on growing participation in the sport, our customer base and critically our income streams.
“There is really good work already underway in so many areas, but there is also much to do to set our industry up to thrive for generations to come.”
Kyrsten Halley, BHA nominations committee chair, added: “We were particularly impressed with Simon’s in-depth knowledge and understanding of British racing and breeding, accumulated over many years as an owner-breeder and investor in our sport, alongside his experience and expertise from a truly impressive commercial career.
“He is acutely aware of the nature of the challenges our industry faces and articulated a clear and compelling plan for how we seek to address them.
“His strong vision for how we make progress in key areas like the sport’s governance, growth strategy, equine and human welfare and government relations left us in no doubt that he has the credentials to provide exceptional leadership at a critical time for our industry.”
Arnold Ash is EGR’s executive recruitment partner. It supports ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.
The post British Horseracing Authority selects ex-Molson Coors chief as new chair first appeared on EGR Intel.
Simon Cox, a racehorse owner and breeder, to take up the post on 1 October, as the sport’s regulatory body closes search for permanent replacement for Lord Allen
The post British Horseracing Authority selects ex-Molson Coors chief as new chair first appeared on EGR Intel.