New Racing Victoria board announced

Brian Kruger has been appointed the new chairman of Racing Victoria with acting chairman Mike Hirst to become his deputy.

Victoria’s racing minister Martin Pakula announced the eight members of the reconstituted board on Friday following amendments to the RV constitution.

Three of the current board members selected by Pakula to continue on the board are Michael Andrew, Greg Nichols and Hirst.

Hirst has been acting chairman since late last year.

Under the constitution an advisory panel was set up to recommend appointments for the remaining positions after interviews with a number of candidates.

The panel unanimously recommended seven candidates to Pakula before the minister selected five from that list.

Along with Kruger, Rowen Craigie, Kate Joel, Sharon McCrohan and Ross Lanyon have been appointed to the board which commences on October 9.

They replace Bryan Gurry, Prue Hayes, Mohan Jesudason, Pearse Morgan and Alice Williams.

“I congratulate each of the new directors on their appointment to the board and I look forward to their contribution to advance the interests of the Victorian racing industry,” Pakula said.

“The new appointments will ensure that the Board has stability and continuity as we head into the spring carnival.”

Kruger is a former managing director of Toll Holdings and was also on the board of the Moonee Valley Racing Club for 11 years.

Craigie most recently retired as managing director of Crown Resorts Limited.

Joel has served as chair of RV’s integrity council and was a former director of Harness Racing Victoria.

Lanyon is managing director of the Elliott Newspaper Group and was a long-time chair of Country Racing Victoria.

McCrohan has a career spanning almost 30 years as a journalist and adviser to federal and state government leaders and cabinets, private sector boards, sporting bodies, charities and government agencies.

“That is an exceptional board,” Pakula told RSN.

“It has business. racing, both metro and country, governance, integrity. communications, finance,.wagering and international expertise.”