Vivien Currie Appointed as Chief Executive at Ascot

Vivien Currie has been appointed the new chief executive for Ascot, succeeding Guy Henderson who will retire after next year's royal meeting. 

Currie will leave her current role at Hamilton in April, where she has been chief executive since 2008. She will work alongside Henderson in the build-up to the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting—the eighth of Henderson's tenure—which runs from June 14-18. 

During her time at Hamilton she oversaw the construction of a £10 million on-site hotel at the Scottish venue and also served as vice-chair of the Racecourse Association, before becoming a non-executive director of the BHA between 2016 and 2019. 

Currie said: "Leading the business of Hamilton Park has been a most enjoyable period of my career. I have been given so many opportunities to develop and grow the racecourse into an all-year-round hospitality and racing resort, none more so than by conceptualizing and building a new on-site hotel for our racegoers and thousands of visitors to enjoy. 

"I'm looking forward to this new, very exciting chapter at Ascot, but will always remember fondly all those who I have worked with and met throughout my incredible journey at Hamilton Park."

Currie received an MBE in November for her services to racecourse management, business, and charity in a postponed ceremony for the 2020 New Year's Honour's List. 

The announcement was welcomed by Hamilton director and trainer Mark Johnston, who recognized the impact Currie had in her almost 14-year tenure at the track.

"It's fantastic for Vivien to get the appointment," Johnston said. "It's a tremendous honor and a compliment to Hamilton that the achievements at the track have been seen so positively. All the directors are delighted for her and very flattered that a Hamilton chief executive is going to Ascot."

Sir Ian Good, Hamilton chairman, added: "Vivien has overseen an incredibly successful period in the racecourse's history and has played a leading role in the development and expansion of the business on all fronts.

"While we're naturally sad she's moving on, the opportunity to take up the reins at Ascot in such a prestigious role is one that couldn't be ignored, and she goes with our heartfelt thanks for her tremendous contribution to Hamilton Park." 

Henderson will officially step down from his role on June 30, having been Ascot's chief executive since 2015. 

Sir Francis Brooke, Her Majesty's representative and chairman at the course said: "Vivien will join as CEO designate in April and work alongside Guy in the lead up to the delivery of Royal Ascot in the Platinum Jubilee Year. On June 30 she will take over as CEO when Guy retires at the end of what has been an outstanding tenure.

"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. The whole board is much looking forward to welcoming her to Ascot."