BHA appoints Rust as chief executive

Current Ladbrokes managing director of retail Nick Rust (47) has been appointed as chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) replacing outgoing chief executive Paul Bittar.

Rust has 27 years of experience in the betting and gaming industry, and in his current role has oversight of around 2,500 betting shops and 13,000 staff. He rejoined Ladbrokes in 2011, having started at the firm as a cashier in 1987, and held roles at BskyB between 2002 and 2007, including as Managing Director of SkyBet, and at Gala Coral from 2007 to 2010, including as Managing Director, Remote Gambling and Coral Retail. He has extensive experience in industry and corporate affairs, having managed key relationships with Government and regulators, and has excellent relationships across British Racing, the BHA said in a statement.

“Given my lifelong passion for British Racing, I am thrilled and honoured to be taking up the role of Chief Executive at BHA”, Rust said. “Racing is a huge sport, and critical to many areas of the economy. It has many exciting opportunities ahead and I know that the Racing industry can grasp these.”

Rust is expected to take up the position when he become available from Ladbrokes in early 2015.