Tim Hollingsworth has been appointed as Sport England’s new Chief Executive.
Tim is currently Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, a role he has held since 2011. He replaces Jennie Price, who announced in May that she would be leaving Sport England after 11 years as CEO.
Tim brings a wealth of senior experience to Sport England. As Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, he led the organisation through both the historic London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, with ParalympicsGB achieving an incredible 147 medals at the latter to finish second in the medal table. More recently ParalympicsGB achieved its best-ever performance at a Winter Games, winning seven medals including a gold at Pyeongchang 2018. Alongside this success at Games time Tim has led the increase in profile and interest in the Paralympic movement, driven the commercial and business growth of the BPA as a charity and ensured it is at the forefront of challenging perceptions of disability in society.
Prior to the BPA he was at UK Sport for seven years, first as Director of Policy & Communications and then Chief Operating Officer, following over a decade working in senior roles in corporate communications. Tim is also currently a Board Director of the Youth Sport Trust and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust and a member of the International Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic Games Committee.
Commenting on the appointment, Nick Bitel, Chairman of Sport England said: “We are thrilled that Tim will be joining us as our new Chief Executive. We were fortunate to have had a number of outstanding candidates for the role. Tim’s passion for sport, wealth of relevant experience and boundless enthusiasm for Sport England’s strategy really shone through and we look forward to welcoming him in the autumn. I would also like to warmly thank Jennie for her tireless service and dedication to Sport England over the past 11 years. She leaves an organisation full of confidence for the future and on course to deliver against its ambitious vision to create a healthier and happier nation through sport and physical activity.”
Tim Hollingsworth said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as the next Chief Executive of Sport England. The organisation is one I know well and its vision and strategy have never been more important as we seek as a nation to maximise the ways in which people from all areas of society are attracted to, access and benefit from sport and physical activity.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in the Paralympic movement for the past seven incredible years and am pleased the BPA will remain a key partner in my new role. It is one that I relish and I can’t wait to get started.”
Commenting on Tim’s departure, British Paralympic Association Chairman Nick Webborn said: “Tim Hollingsworth has been a key figure in the huge growth of Paralympic sport in the UK, and the British Paralympic Association is now widely recognised as a world leading National Paralympic Committee.
“He harnessed the once in a generation opportunity presented by London 2012 which helped transform perceptions of disabled people in this country. Under Tim’s stewardship the BPA has also been determined to broaden the impact of those performances to deliver on its vision: through sport, inspire a better world for disabled people.
“While I am sad to see Tim leave the BPA I am delighted he is staying in the sporting sector and look forward to continue to work closely with him in his new role at Sport England.”
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “Tim is a fantastic appointment by Sport England and I am sure he will do a great job in leading the organisation and continuing the implementation of the government’s world leading sport strategy – encouraging more people to get involved in sport and physical activity for the positive impact it can have on their lives. Tim has great experience in sports administration and will seamlessly take the baton from Jennie Price, who I thank for her hard work over the past decade.”
Tim Hollingsworth will join Sport England in November.
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