• Board Chairman

    Dominic J Burke

    Dominic Burke retired in 2022 from his position of Vice Chairman of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc and a member of its Group Executive Committee. This followed the acquisition by MMC of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc where Dominic had been Group CEO for more than fourteen years. Dominic is a keen owner and breeder with horses in training on the flat and over jumps and is a member of the Jockey Club. In addition to his role as Newbury Racecourse PLC Chairman he is also a non-Executive Director at Investment Management company St James’s Place plc. He is also the Honorary Treasurer of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

  • Chief Executive

    Julian Thick

    Julian Thick has been Chief Executive since 2013. For over twenty-five years Julian has held a number of senior roles in the racing industry having been Managing Director of Aintree, Sandown and Kempton Park racecourses as well as a board member of Jockey Club Racecourses. He was also a Director of Racecourse Media Group and affiliated companies between 2014 and 2021.

  • Finance Director

    Mark Leigh

    Prior to joining as Finance Director in 2020, Mark Leigh spent three years as CFO of Longleat and ten years at global visitor attractions and hotel operator Merlin Entertainments covering various senior finance roles, including five years as FD at Chessington World of Adventures Resort. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

  • Non-Executive Director (Non-Independent)

    Lady Lloyd Webber

    Madeleine Lloyd-Webber is a former international three-day eventer who owns Watership Down Stud near Newbury and Kiltinan Castle Stud in Tipperary and has enjoyed numerous Group successes as an owner/breeder. She is a Director, Deputy Chairman of Really Useful Group and Lloyd Webber Theatres. She is a member of the Jockey Club.

  • Non-Executive Director (Non-Independent)

    Erik Penser

    Erik Penser is a member of the Jockey Club and lives and farms at Compton Beauchamp, near Lambourn.

  • Non-Executive Director

    The Hon Harry Herbert

    Harry Herbert is the Chairman and Managing Director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Limited, a racehorse syndication Company with over 50 horses in training. The Company has enjoyed many successes and has been responsible for the Epsom Derby winner, Motivator, as well as six other European champions; Lake Coniston, Tamarisk, Delilah, Petrushka, Memory and Harbinger. In 2022 Highclere enjoyed further success when Cachet won the Group One QIPCO 1,000 Guineas. He is a member of the Jockey Club.

  • Non -Executive Director

    John Dodds

    John Dodds was Chief Executive of Kier Group plc, the international construction business, until retiring in March 2010 after nearly 40 years with the Company. John’s extensive experience in the construction and house building industry sector has been an important asset in Newbury Racecourse’s property development programme.

  • Non-Executive Director

    Jim McGrath

    Jim McGrath has worked in racing since leaving school in 1974, when he moved to Yorkshire to join the Timeform Organisation where, in a thirty-four-year stint, he held numerous positions, including that of Chairman. Since 1981 he has worked as a pundit, initially for ITV, thereafter, joining Channel 4 Racing in 1984 and since 2019 has worked on a freelance basis for Sky Sports Racing. Jim has also served on various racing bodies, including both BHB and BHA, where he acted as an Independent Director. Formerly a director of Haydock Park Racecourse, he has bred winners of more than sixty races and also been a successful owner.

  • Non-Executive Director

    Matthew Thompson

    Matthew Thompson most recently held the position of Managing Director of Benugo, which is the leading hospitality (food and beverage) business in the visitor attraction sector, with partners such as The V&A, British Museum and London Zoo. Previously, Matthew led the Services business for Mitie Group plc, and spent eight years leading the Sports & Leisure business for Compass Group, both in the UK and globally. Matthew has also held senior management positions at Centrica, Glaxo Wellcome and Zenith.

  • Non-Executive Director

    Bryan Burrough

    Bryan Burrough was a Managing Director of BlackRock Inc and subsequently a Senior Investment Director at Investec Wealth & Investment until he retired in 2017. He was an Investment Manager specialising in Charities. He has been High Sheriff of Essex and Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. He is an owner, mainly over jumps, and successes included Corbiere winning the Grand National.

  • Non-Executive Director

    Sofia Watson

    Since 1999 Sofia Watson has worked for Christies, the auction house, and has a keen interest in racing and regularly attends the racecourse. Sofia studied at University of Lund, Sweden where she read History of Art. She lives on the Compton Beauchamp estate, near Lambourn.