British Ski and Snowboard has appointed three new Non-Executive Directors to their Board, with an exciting mix of financial, sport, recruitment and legal experience.
Anna Lees-Jones, Richard Leman and Joanna Poulton have joined the National Governing Body at an exciting time for snowsports in Great Britain, with British Ski and Snowboard recently announcing an ambitious vision to become one of the top 5 Olympic Snowsport nations in the world by 2030. With the 2018 Winter Olympic Games just over seven months away, the three new Board members will be looking to help the organisation move forward on their mission to success.
Ex-professional skier and investment professional Anna Lees-Jones has already built up a portfolio of non-executive roles after a twenty year career in asset management with firms like Dresdner, M&G and Investec. Anna was previously a member of the British Children’s Ski Team as well as being BASI qualified. She still loves skiing, particularly fresh powder in Flaine with her three children.
Anna said on her appointment: “I am delighted to join the Board of BSS and hope I can bring the experience from my professional career as a Non-Exec together with my passion for snowsports. I used to ski full time on the FIS circuit before starting my financial career. I am still hugely passionate about snowsports and I hope I can play a part in driving BSS forward towards its vision.”
Having just finished a 10-year term as Chair of Great Britain Hockey, Richard Leman brings top-class experience from the sporting arena to BSS as well as experience of building businesses.
Richard set up his first business in 1993 and has since founded and chaired several businesses, mainly in the Human Resource and Recruitment sectors. In addition he has set up a Charity at East Grinstead Sports Club where he has raised over £4m to help develop the multi-sport community hub. Richard also played hockey at two Olympic games, winning a Bronze medal at Los Angeles in 1984 and a Gold medal at Seoul in 1988. He is now a keen skier who has passed the passion onto his children.
“I hope that my experience with Great Britain Hockey as both a player and a Board member will bring an added depth of elite sport experience to the BSS Board” commented Richard. “I am looking forward to working with British Ski and Snowboard as an Independent Director and trying to make a differen?ce ?to British snowsports at this exciting time.”
Joanna Poulton has over twenty-five years senior management experience within the Legal Services Profession and the Renewable Energy Sector. As well previously holding Chief Executive positions with four barristers’ chambers, Joanna is a keen skier, spending time in the French Alps when she can. She also has a keen interest in sailing, spending three years as a non-executive director at the Royal Yachting Society (RYA) as well as participating in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
“There are many parallels between the position that BSS finds itself in and the position I stepped into at the RYA,” said Joanna. “I am confident I can use my experience at the RYA to bring value to BSS. This experience included dealing with membership development, governance structure, commercial and funding issues. I am a passionate skier and I am looking forward to combining this passion with my commercial experience to the benefit of British Ski and Snowboard.”
Dave Edwards, Chief Executive of British Ski and Snowboard said of the election of the three new board members: “We are delighted to have three very talented professionals joining our Board at what is a pivotal time for British snowsports. They will bring commercial, financial and business expertise to our board and organisation, which can only beneficial as we look towards PyeongChang 2018 and beyond.”
British Ski and Snowboard is backed by Principal Sponsor Delancey, a specialist real estate investment and advisory company. British athletes are also supported by the British Snowsports Fund (www.bssnf.uk), a scheme which allows ski and snowboard fans to give a small donation to support our elite teams and younger athletes via one of the Fund’s industry partners, for example when buying a holiday or purchasing kit.