Iain Edmondson, a driving force behind some of the UK’s most significant sporting and cultural spectacles, has been named as a non-executive Boat Race Company Director—just in time to help steer this beloved British institution into its milestone years.
In 2027, The Boat Race will celebrate the centenary of the Women’s Race; two years later, the Men’s Race will mark its 200th anniversary.
Edmondson arrives with an impressive background in major events—most notably the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where he spent over a decade shaping and delivering the event’s enduring legacy.
His role there involved bringing together visionary ideas, key stakeholders, and measurable outcomes that ensured the Games’ long-term positive impact.
But that’s just the start of his résumé. While serving as Head of Major Events for London & Partners (the capital’s growth agency launched by the Mayor of London), he helped create RideLondon, the annual cycling extravaganza that has raised more than £85 million for charity over its first decade.
Edmondson also co-founded the International Association of Event Hosts, a forum helping organisations maximise returns from large-scale sporting and cultural gatherings.
The Boat Race has its own historic footprint stretching back nearly two centuries to 1829, with the first Women’s Race introduced in 1927.
Today, the men’s and women’s contests—pitting Oxford against Cambridge—pull in vast crowds along the Thames from Putney to Mortlake, and millions more tune in on the BBC.
To Edmondson, who once rowed with Cambridge University Boat Club and even claimed a victory at Henley Royal Regatta, his new position presents an irresistible chance to give back to the sport.
Commenting on his appointment, Edmondson said: “As a passionate advocate for sport and culture in one of the world’s top event cities, I’m honoured to join the governing board of the historic event.
I look forward to helping The Boat Race retain its status as an iconic fixture in the city’s annual event calendar, as it moves into its next century.”
Siobhan Cassidy, Chair of The Boat Race Company, added: “We are delighted Iain has agreed to join as our new director. Iain’s experience with London 2012 will obviously be very relevant and valuable for us, given our location.
As we approach two key anniversaries for The Boat Race, the range of events and projects Iain has been involved with will bring invaluable expertise in planning for those milestones as well as the next phase of the event’s future.
We know Iain will help us cement all the wider benefits for London and the UK that flow from The Boat Race.”
Edmondson’s row-centric résumé includes nine years as a Trustee of London Youth Rowing, where he served as Chair until 2022, championing inclusive opportunities for young people.
Now, his focus turns to 2027 and 2029, when The Boat Race will not only celebrate huge milestones but also aim to deepen its roots in the capital.
Those planning to witness the excitement can circle Sunday, 13 April 2025, in their diaries—the date when the 79th Women’s Race and 170th Men’s Race will once again bring 200,000 spectators lining the banks of the Thames.
Free to attend and broadcast live worldwide, The Boat Race continues to capture both tradition and innovation in each powerful stroke. Edmondson’s role will be to help ensure it stays that way for decades to come.