New Regatta Director joins executive management team at Cowes Week Ltd
by Cowes Week Ltd 12 Jan 2018 07:25 PST
3-10 August 2018
Laurence Mead, new Regatta Director CWL © Cowes Week Ltd
Organisers of the world famous Lendy Cowes Week are delighted to announce the appointment of Laurence Mead as Regatta Director.
Laurence joins the Executive Management Team at Cowes Week Ltd with responsibility for leading all on-the-water aspects of the regatta. He will join existing management team members Kate Johnson, CWL's Commercial and Marketing Director, who will continue to lead the sponsorship and commercial side of the business, Andrew Rayner, responsible for the regatta's results and technology infrastructure, and Chris Pegna, Financial Controller.
Laurence is no stranger to the regatta, having raced in his first Cowes Week in 1982 when he was a sailmaker based in Fareham. Since then he has competed at the regatta many times, on everything from Flying 15s to Class 1 IRC. Laurence is well known to many people on the UK sailing scene from his many years of regular Solent competition and his presidency of the British Etchells class from 2008 to 2012. Internationally he has competed on the World Match Racing Tour, sailed in ocean classics such as the Sydney Hobart and Admiral's Cup and has represented Hong Kong as skipper in five RORC Commodores' Cup events here in Cowes. Laurence brings an intimate knowledge of the sport to the Executive Team as well as a strong commercial background, gained during a business career as CEO of several international companies based in Hong Kong.
Commenting on his appointment, Laurence said "I am delighted to be joining the Cowes Week Ltd team and being a part of something which to my mind is the best festival of boat racing in the world. It doesn't matter in which class you sail there's strong but friendly competition throughout and the Solent always delivers great racing in everything from 5 to 30 knots of wind. I'm looking forward to helping take the event forward based on its amazing history and heritage but keeping it modern and in-line with current developments in the sailing world.'
Chairman of Cowes Week Limited (CWL), Peter Taylor, added: "We're delighted to welcome Laurence to the team and look forward to working with him to continue the evolution of one of the world's flagship regattas. We have an exciting year ahead with entries already looking very promising for the 2018 edition of Lendy Cowes Week".