Martin Stevenson appointed CEO at Racecourse Media Group

Martin Stevenson has been appointed chief executive officer at Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the media and data rights holding company for UK and Ireland’s racecourses. He succeeds Richard FitzGerald, who left the post in September.

A qualified accountant (FCCA), Stevenson’s previous experience includes the position of managing director at the Newspaper Licensing Agency and group financial controller at Trinity Mirror. He has intimate knowledge and understanding of the RMG business, having joined the group as finance director in 2007.

Roger Lewis, chairman of RMG, said: “On behalf of the RMG Board, RMG’s racecourses and all the RMG staff, I am delighted to announce Martin as the new CEO of the group. Martin’s vision for RMG is bold and imaginative. His relationship with our shareholder racecourses is very special and Martin is passionate that RMG can, and will, deliver the best returns for racing.

“The RMG business model has been severely tested during the last 12 months, but it has demonstrated great resilience, providing vital media rights income for our racecourses. We are now slowly emerging out of the pandemic and Martin is undoubtedly the right person to lead RMG into its next phase of growth over the coming years.”

Stevenson added: “I am extremely excited and honoured to take up the position of RMG CEO. I look forward to working even more collaboratively with our 34 racecourse shareholders, whose media interests have been entrusted to RMG.

“RMG has been a phenomenal success story since its inception as Racing UK back in 2004, having posted year-on-year increases in licence fees payable to its racecourse shareholders nearly every year of trading. We will continue to innovate with our output, and will also continue to be creative and forward-thinking in how best to commercialise our racecourses’ content.”