UK Athletics has started the recruitment process to appoint a successor to Nic Coward as non-executive Chair.

The new Chair will join the governing body of the nation’s leading Olympic and Paralympic sport after the Tokyo Olympics, at an exciting time for the whole sport in the UK, implementing the new strategy to 2032.

Applications close on Monday 6 September, with interviews in person on Thursday 16 September and second interviews on Tuesday 21 September in London. Details are at careers.ukathletics.org.uk

Nic joined as Interim CEO in January 2020, with the task of stabilising the organisation after a period of turmoil and starting the necessary transformation process.  He agreed to then become Chair when Joanna Coates joined as CEO in March 2020. Together they have led the organisation through a considerable period of change, during the pandemic and the postponement of Tokyo 2020, delivering a new sport-wide strategy “Athletics Unified” in collaboration with the Home Country Athletics Federations, a new-look board reflecting the diversity of the sport, new executive leadership team following a restructure, and UK Athletics’ own Operational Plan to deliver its responsibilities under Athletics Unified to be launched on 13 July 2021 after a broad consultation process.  The changes made include a significantly enhanced approach to Standards and Safeguarding.

Having agreed to continue as Chair until after Tokyo, Nic will stay involved to enable a handover to the new Chair.