He will join the organisation on 18 August, departing his position of CEO of Weatherbys, a UK conglomerate involved in a range of activities largely within banking and horse racing.
Nick Mills, RMG CEO, described Russell as being ‘highly regarded within the industry’.
‘Expertise, experience and enthusiasm’
Ferris has had more than 20 years of senior management and directorial experience in the industry, including as Managing Director of Limerick Racecourse and Director, Ireland for At The Races.
His first steps in the sector saw him become General Manager at a top National Hunt Stud Farms for around six years.Following this, he joined Limerick Racecourse as Managing Director, which was a role he held for around five years. He was also Director for horseracing channel At The Races.
Mills said: “Russell will oversee and further align the Commercial and Broadcast departments and help take the business to new levels in terms of innovation, engagement and revenues. I very much look forward to welcoming Russell to RMG in August.”
Ferris joined Weatherbys Ireland in 2016 and was promoted to Weatherbys Ltd Group CEO three years later. Notably, he also currently sits as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Racing Digital and Venture Bio.
On his appointment, Ferris emphasised: “I am delighted to be joining a great team at RMG and very much looking forward to the new challenge.
“RMG plays a pivotal role within the industry both domestically and internationally, and I am excited by the company’s vision to further enhance the sport’s appeal, reach and engagement to ensure a bright future for all.
“I’d like to thank the Weatherbys family for the opportunity provided to me. It has been fantastic to see the business develop and diversify in recent years, and I know that I leave it in great hands with Sharon O’Regan and a talented team across the business.”
Enhancing all areas
Ferris joins RMG at a critical time for UK horse racing, with the sport suffering from dropping attendance rates and financial issues. The sport is heavily reliant on media rights payments and the betting sector for revenue, the latter via sponsorships and levy payments.
Despite attendances taking a hit, bookmakers remain committed to horse racing – as shown by stakeholders’ reflections on the recent Cheltenham Festival, for example. Meanwhile, RMG has secured a renewal of its distribution agreements with licensed betting offices (LBOs) via its partnership with SIS (Sports Information Services).
Dingnews.com 03/04/2025