Phelps steps down from British Rowing to adhere to governance code

British Rowing chair Annamarie Phelps will step down from her role next year to make the governing body compliant with the government’s Code for Sports governance.

Under rules laid out by the code, board members for governing bodies are allowed to stay for a maximum of nine years, or up to 12 if appointed chair.

Phelps joined British Rowing in 2002 and was elected as chair in 2013, meaning her tenure will have stretched to 16 years by the time she leaves next March.

Deputy chair Gary Harris will also step down after serving 16 years already. Christopher Anton and Bonner Davies will leaving the organisation’s Council in October 2017.

Phelps said it had been a “privilege and honour” to lead British Rowing.

She added: “Working with my fantastic colleagues on both the board and Council, I am proud of what we have been able to achieve to drive the sport forward. I am indebted to the staff and amazing volunteers who I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.”

The hunt to find Phelps’ successor is underway.

Andy Parkinson, British Rowing’s chief executive, said the organisation was “disappointed” that Phelps couldn’t complete her second four-year term as chair.

“Annamarie is a hugely influential and popular figure within rowing not just in Great Britain but globally and it is an understatement to say that she will be greatly missed by everyone at British Rowing,” he added.

Last November, the government published its Code for Sports Governance in an attempt to boost transparency in sport, and increase the diversity on boards.

If organisations fail to adhere to the code they run the risk of losing public funding distributed through organisations like Sport England and UK Sport.