Chair of UK Sport welcomes Sir Keith Mills appointment

Paul Dancey on 02/02/2011

Sir Keith Mills has been appointed as the Chair of the Project Board that has been established to manage the merger of Sport England and UK Sport, due to be completed by 1st April 2013.

Mills has been tasked with working with DCMS, Sport England and UK Sport to merge both organisations into one single arms length body.

Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of UK Sport, said "UK Sport is pleased to have Sir Keith Mills working alongside us to oversee the merger with Sport England. His vast experience and understanding of the sporting landscape will be invaluable to us as we look to shape the merged organisation in the best interests of British sport, while allowing us to maintain focus on delivery at this crucial time for elite and grass roots sport in this country."

Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson added "It is fantastic to have Sir Keith Mills as Chair of the Project Board. His unparalleled business experience, combined with a detailed knowledge of our sporting landscape, means he is the perfect person to oversee this work. The structure of sport in this country must be rationalised and, going forward, it does not make sense to have two organisations, operating out of different and expensive central London locations with the associated administrative costs. I also want to capture the commercial opportunities generated by London 2012 to sport thereafter. I have no doubt Sir Keith will manage this with his customary expertise."

Whilst Sir Keith Mills said "I look forward to helping drive through the merger of UK Sport and Sport England. My priority will be making sure this happens as smoothly as possible, to ensure UK Sport and Sport England can focus on the crucial work they are carrying out in the run up to the London 2012 Games, in supporting our elite athletes and funding grass roots sport respectively. We would like to see the new merged organisations provide even stronger support for sport post 2012."

Sir Keith's main responsibilities will be to ensure the project delivers a merged body that incorporates the current responsibilities of Sport England and UK Sport for community and elite sport respectively, while maintaining distinct English and UK funding streams, which deliver even more value for money for the Government and the public.

He will also ensure that the perspective of stakeholders including the devolved administrations, Home Country Sports Councils, sport's national governing bodies, local authorities and other organisations with a significant role in the delivery of sport is properly considered during the formation of the merged organisation.

back to article index