British Eventing heads for ‘stability’
British Eventing (BE) has made a second about-turn over the make up of its leadership in just three months.
But chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith insists there will be no more changes.
“It’s fair to say BE could do with a period of stability,” he reflected, following a turbulent two years for the organisation.
In November, former BE sport director Mr Etherington-Smith was promoted to chief executive — a post that was scrapped in April 2007, when previous chief executive Peter Durrant was suddenly made redundant.
But at its AGM last October, BE admitted its constitution required the appointment of a chief executive. Mr Etherington-Smith was consequently promoted and a new sport director position was advertised (news, 13 November 2008).
Now the board claims a sport director is unnecessary but says a commercial director is needed to head BE’s marketing team.
The board has also promoted Debbie Marfell (formerly sport and technical assistant) and Paul Graham (formerly international teams liaison officer) to become sport managers.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Debbie will focus on event organisation, rules, fixtures and discipline and Paul will look after rider-related issues, including international competitions, safety and training.
Chairman of the Event Riders Association (UK) Nick Gauntlett said the promotion of Paul and Debbie “can only be good”.
Mr Etherington-Smith said new company secretary Wendy McGowan has taken “a number of jobs off his desk” leaving him more time for the sport.
He added: “Like all businesses at the present time, we need to strengthen our commercial side.”
Scotland and northern England regional director Iain Graham had been tipped for the post of sport director. He declined to comment on whether he had been interviewed for the job, but was positive about the change, saying he would continue to support Mr Etherington-Smith.
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 February, ’09)
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.