Gary Shaughnessy CBE to stand down as England Athletics Board Chair 

England Athletics is sad to announce that Gary Shaughnessy CBE has decided to stand down from his position as Chair of the Board. 

An open recruitment process will shortly begin, led by the Nominations & Remunerations Committee of the Board, and it is expected that a successor to lead the Board of England Athletics will be in place by the next AGM in November or earlier.  

Speaking about his decision to retire from the role of Chair, Gary said: 

"Athletics in England and in the UK is growing in so many different ways. It is exciting to see clubs, athletes, runners, coaches, officials, facility owners, and competition providers working together, embracing technology and innovating, to support this growth. Athletics is also a bedrock sport which plays a fundamental part in helping develop a fairer, healthier and happier society for all.

"That positive momentum sits alongside a number of crucial challenges, including protecting and modernising our facilities and working proactively to make the sport even more accessible and relevant , particularly to those who are most vulnerable.

"Having lived with Parkinson’s for nearly 12 years now, managing my health is crucial for me to be effective and running continues to be central to my life. At this pivotal point for the sport, however, I believe that a new Chair will breathe new energy into the role, supporting Chris and his excellent executive team in every part of England and delivering to all parts of our sport."

Reflecting on his time as Chair of England Athletics, Gary continued: 

"I am proud of what we have achieved together over the last five years and how we’ve overcome challenges. We’ve faced a global pandemic, the societal effects of which we are still feeling today. We have recovered positively since that period, stabilising areas such as club membership and athlete registration. We’ve also taken on greater responsibility for the day-to-day coordination of the domestic sport in England including participation, education, licensing, fixture planning, talent and performance. 

"There is so much more that we need to do though. We face ongoing challenges in retaining young people in our sport, protecting and developing our facilities, as well as continuing to evolve and modernise our approaches to competition. Our ability to remain relevant and a sport of choice will, I feel, depend on us embracing the opportunity to welcome change, to try and test new approaches, and to collaborate at all levels.

"In my view, the constructive relationship between the England Council, the Board, the home countries and UK Athletics has been crucial in creating a challenging but increasingly ambitious environment across the sport. However, the structure is only as good as the people in it. 

"I have been fortunate to meet so many inspiring, dedicated and ambitious people through my role over the last five years. The new EA Board Chair will, I believe, need not just to match the ambition but to drive it further and faster and to do so for many years to come."

Senior Independent Director Tunji Akintokun MBE said: 

"Whilst we are naturally disappointed that Gary has made this decision, we fully respect it, thank him wholeheartedly, and most importantly wish him all the very best of health and happiness moving forward. 

"The fact that he has made this decision now further demonstrates the self-awareness and integrity that Gary possesses in abundance. I know we will all miss his wise, calm and experienced counsel, but most of all his friendly, collaborative and empathetic approach as a people-first leader. 

"I feel that Gary should be proud of the developments that we have made under his leadership, particularly in important areas such as culture and teamwork. The ongoing constructive and respectful collaboration between Council, Board, our partners UKA and the staff is a particular aspect of England Athletics that has developed significantly under his leadership."

A timetable for recruiting a successor for Gary is being developed and we anticipate being able to disclose further details on this process in the coming weeks.