Just 24 hours after Aaron Morrison was appointed Racing Victoria's chief executive officer, it has been confirmed that Matt Welsh, the regulator's executive general manager of racing, will leave his role.
Morrison was announced as the new RV CEO on Tuesday and in his post-appointment comments said he would review “the structure, resources and operations” of Racing Victoria.
Industry publication Racing.com reported Welsh, who was a key player in the previous executive regime, headed by departed CEO Andrew Jones, had "resigned" on Wednesday.
Welsh was one of three executives, along with Jones and Ben Amarfio, who were at the centre of a campaign led by TROA chairman Jonathan Munz to refresh the executive.
The former form analyst was a surprising choice when appointed in September 2022 after the departure of experienced racing administrator, Greg Carpenter, for a role in Hong Kong.
Welsh had previously been employed through Racing.com as general manager of WSP, form and wagering, and had appeared on the racing broadcaster as a form analyst.
In his new role, he became a key player and a public face in Jones’s reform agenda, which involved a focus on fans, proposed innovations such as mic-ed-up jockeys, cuts to some prize money, and changes to the All-Star Mile.
That did not enamour Jones to stakeholders, nor Welsh, who was enlisted to try to sell the message to sceptical industry.
When Jones departed in April, Amarfio, the executive GM of customer, followed suit two weeks later, having spent less than 14 months in the job.
Welsh’s papers would have appeared to be stamped at that point, but the likelihood of Morrison, who he served alongside on the executive, getting the CEO job permanently gave hope that he could retain his position.
However, his reprieve would prove temporary, with less than 24 hours between Morrison being appointed as CEO and Welsh’s departure being confirmed.
