The British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) has appointed Di Cornish, a successful executive from the commercial world, to succeed Jacky Wood as chief executive later this year.
Di, a leading owner and producer of top show jumpers, will join the BSJA on 1 September and will take over from Jacky after an appropriate handover period.
The new chief executive is a passionate advocate of show jumping and for many years supported and worked closely with Harvey Smith and later with his sons Robert and Steven. She has also built up a successful riding school and livery yard in Hertfordshire, is a former BSJA executive board member and committee member of the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and through her company Brook Street, was one of the first people to provide major corporate sponsorship of HOYS.
In the commercial world, Di has been a board member of FTSE 250 listed companies and has a successful track record in personnel and recruitment services. She was CEO at Brook Street Bureau and later became executive chairman at Blue Arrow Ltd.
Jacky Wood will be retiring at the end of this year after devoting over 40 years of her life to British show jumping. Jacky rose from head of the BSJA’s shows department to chief executive. She was awarded an OBE in 2007, thee British Equestrian Federation’s medal of honour in 1986 and, this year, the First Women Tourism and Leisure award for her services to the sport.
BSJA chaiman Michael Mac said:
“I know I speak for everyone at the BSJA when I say that it has been a pleasure to work with Jacky — her knowledge, dedication, and meticulous attention to detail has always been second to none, earning her respect from everyone she knows.
“As sad as we are to see Jacky taking retirement, we are absolutely delighted that we have found such a strong successor in Di Cornish and we warmly welcome her to this key role.”
BSJA appoints Di Cornish as new chief executive
