Experienced sports veteran Andy Anson has stepped down as chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA) to join private equity firm BD-Capital Partners, bringing an end to his 14-year association with the organization.
Anson, who is also chair of Lancashire County Cricket Club, will leave his role in October after six years at the helm to join the board of BD-Capital Partners’ recently acquired nutrition brand Science in Sport.
The BOA stated that it will now initiate the process of appointing a successor.
Science in Sport, which supplies products to international sports teams and Olympic athletes, was acquired by BD-Capital in recent weeks. Anson’s new role will see him “look for and assess further investment opportunities in the sports ecosystem.”
In a statement, Anson said: “I am proud to have led an organization that I love and care for. Olympic sport is so important to our country, and I hope I leave it in a better place today.
“Commercially, we have enjoyed our best ever period of success and sustained growth, and with that, we have been able to build a financially stable organization, fit for the future.”
Anson joined the BOA in 2011 as a non-executive director, stepping up to chief executive in 2019 and leading the organization through the Covid-19 pandemic and postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Before that, he held senior roles at UK broadcaster Channel 4 and e-commerce heavyweight Fanatics, as well as soccer club Manchester United and media giant Walt Disney Company.
Anson was also the chief executive of tennis’ ATP Tour and led England’s failed bid to host soccer’s flagship 2018 World Cup, which eventually went to Russia.
BOA chair Katherine Grainger said: “Andy’s tenure at the BOA is one that he can look back on with immense pride.
“The BOA is in a strong place both on the sporting front ahead of the Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, and on the commercial front. I wish him well and thank him for everything he has done for the organization.”
During his 14 years at the BOA, Britain won more than 60 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games and Paris Games last year, as well as delivering success at the Winter Olympic Games and European Games.
