The Board of Welsh Rowing is sad to announce that Helen Tan has notified the Board that she has decided to leave the company during the summer to spend more time with her family having served as Chief Executive since August 2014 and the Board would like to put on record its sincere thanks for all that she has committed and achieved on behalf of the organisation during her tenure in post.
Helen has a three month notice period that she will complete in July and she will work proactively with the Board to support the recruitment of a high calibre replacement to build on the legacy that Helen will leave behind and as we look towards an action packed summer of rowing across Wales which includes, of course, the World Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships that will take place in Saundersfoot.
Chair of the Welsh Rowing Board, Theo Huckle QC commented, “We are all extremely sad that Helen has decided to step down from her position as CEO of Welsh Rowing and we wish her all the very best of success as she looks to the future. We are indebted to all her hard work and commitment to the organisation and in particular for the way in which she steered the organisation through the choppy waters of an unprecedented pandemic during 2020 and 2021. She should be rightfully proud of the role that she has fulfilled and the team that she has developed and nurtured during her time in post, culminating in Wales hosting the 2022 World Championships at Saundersfoot this year. We wish Helen and her family all the best and know that she will always be a friend of Welsh Rowing”.
Helen said “This has not been an easy decision, and I am disappointed to miss out on what is an exciting 2022 for the rowing community in Wales. Alongside the Worlds in Saundersfoot, the return to normal levels of activity, and the increased desire post-pandemic for people to get active outside, means that the rowing community has a greater opportunity to spread a love of the sport to a wider audience than ever before. With an increased number of clubs, a more diverse offering of venues and boats, great relationships with partners in and out of Wales, and a team and Board dedicated to making a difference to the rowing community, Welsh Rowing is in a great place to take advantage of the opportunities ahead”.
The Board has begun the process to find a permanent replacement as CEO and will advertise this position externally during April with a view to having someone in post by the middle of the summer and is working to ensure a smooth transition from Helen to the new Chief Executive.
