Tim Eddy is the new chair of Racing Victoria after receiving unanimous boardroom support from his fellow directors.
Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines confirmed the appointment of Eddy as chair for the duration of his current term until December 2027.
Sharon McCrohan, who has been on the board since 2017, will serve as Eddy’s deputy chair.
Eddy’s elevation comes after the Racing Victoria board met on Friday, the first meeting involving newly appointed directors Tim Rourke and Mark Player.
Rourke and Player were added to the board last week in a move that ended long-running speculation that former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan would join Racing Victoria to replace interim chair Mike Hirst.
McLachlan has since been announced as wagering business Tabcorp’s incoming chief executive.
“Tim and Sharon bring a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to these vital roles and I look forward to them leading the critical work of the RV Board to ensure Victoria remains a world leader in thoroughbred racing,” Carbines said.
Eddy has more than four decades of experience leading and managing professional services, risk management and governance operations.
During a distinguished career with global giant Ernst and Young, he was managing partner of Oceania operations, and the global vice-chair of Ernst and Young’s Global Services organisation.
He is a director of the Western Sydney Airport, The Red Fox Group and Rennie Advisory.
“My first priority will be to actively engage with our stakeholders to keep the focus on the opportunities and challenges ahead that unite us,” Eddy said in a Racing Victoria statement.
“Success can only come if we work together. A strong and vibrant Victorian racing industry is in the best interests of every fan of the sport and the tens of thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.
“There are many items on the Board’s agenda. We will go after every one of them with a shared goal of ensuring Victorian racing is a leader that delivers jobs, economic benefits and, above all, enjoyment.”
“My first priority will be to actively engage with our stakeholders to keep the focus on the opportunities and challenges ahead that unite us." - Tim Eddy
One of Eddy’s first major roles as Chair will be to spearhead the search for a chief executive after Andrew Jones’ sudden departure in April.
He said he was honoured to be entrusted with the role and it was a responsibility he would not take lightly.
Warwick Barr
Eddy’s appointment comes in the face of scathing criticism from Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Association chairman Jonathan Munz.
“Choosing Tim Eddy or one of the other incumbents as chair would in my view be a huge mistake and will result in unnecessary conflict, when what the racing industry now requires is common sense and unity,” Munz said last week.
Munz led an unsuccessful bid in February to unseat five of the board’s directors, including Eddy.
“The Minister has delayed us since January waiting for Gill McLachlan and now looks like he has again changed tack and is proposing to limit us to only two new directors and impose Tim Eddy on the industry as the new RVL chair, which no one wants,” Munz said.
“There has been widespread dissatisfaction and lack of confidence from industry participants and race clubs in the Racing Victoria board, resulting in an effective no-confidence vote in the board in February and the subsequent forced departure of discredited CEO Andrew Jones.”
Bren O’Brien
However, several industry stakeholders backed Eddy's appointment, including Australian Trainers' Association boss chair Robbie Griffiths and Victorian Jockeys Association CEO Matthew Hyland.
“The ATA welcomes Tim Eddy as Chairman of Racing Victoria. Tim is a passionate racing person and we look forward to working with him and the Board,” Griffiths said.
“The VJA welcomes the appointment of Tim Eddy, with his deep experience and understanding of racing, as new Chair of Racing Victoria. Together with Sharon McCrohan as Deputy Chair, they’ll make a strong leadership team and we look forward to working with them to get on with dealing with the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.”
McCrohan, who has served on the board since 2017, has a career spanning over 30 years as a journalist and strategic adviser to federal and state government leaders and cabinets, private sector boards, sporting bodies, charities and government agencies.
She is a director of Reliance Worldwide Corporation, the Transport Accident Commission and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.
