Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones has quit after less than two years in the job

The chief executive of Racing Victoria, Andrew Jones, has resigned after less than two years in the top job but the timing of his departure has not been revealed.

Outgoing Racing Victoria CEO Andrew Jones in February.

Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones has quit after a tumultuous less than two years in the top job.

The move will kick start a huge change in leadership at Racing Victoria as former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan zeroes in on becoming its new chairman.

Neither RV or Jones, who was believed to be paid about $800,000 a year, has confirmed when his last day in the role will be, other than to say it will be in the “near term”.

RV chief operating officer Aaron Morrison will transition to be interim CEO.

Racenet understands Jones had been under pressure for some time, however, the timing of his resignation has been a shock to many given RV is close to appointing a new chairman.

Any changes to the executive leadership team were not expected until a new chairman and two new board members had been installed.

Whoever the new chief executive is will be expected to have an in-depth knowledge of racing and wagering.

In a statement Friday, Jones said: “Having served under two chairmen, my resignation makes way for the new chair and board to select a new CEO to take Racing Victoria forward into the future.”

“I came to the role with a clear view on the challenges facing the industry, and I leave knowing I left nothing on the table,” he said.

“I thank my team at RV for their enormous efforts over the past two years which include the delivery of more than $2b in future funding for racing, an improved schedule, a dedicated media business to grow the sport, world class equine welfare policies, increased support for jockeys and trainers, and the first significant club merger in decades.

READ | ‘He needs to be sacked’: Munz attacks Jones

Andrew Jones at “Festival Of Racing” launch in February.

“Growing the fan base of this fantastic sport remains the number one challenge to secure its future sustainability, and I wish Racing Victoria every success under its new leadership.”

Jones, who came from an administration background in cricket and netball, has faced intense criticism during his time as CEO, particularly over the past few months, with RV’s new ideas irking many participants.

Jones, however, had grown increasingly frustrated at the industry’s reluctance for drastic change.

Many race clubs and their administrators across Victoria had also become disenchanted with the performance of RV, and had lost confidence in its future strategy and direction.

In recent months, Jones had significantly boosted his profile on social media, amid concerns he lacked racing knowledge.

Jones’ last post on X was on March 30, when he wrote: “A marvellous Australian Cup. It’s taken a couple of years to get the sequence we want, i.e Orr > Futurity > All Star Mile > Aust Cup, but it was worth the wait. Well done Cascadian - a worthy winner - again!”

End of an era & start of a new as we close a deal w Tabcorp to wrap up our 32-year tri-code JV.

Immediate benefit to VTRI c. $50m over 5 years & we can expect TAB to ramp up activity in Vic as well.

In past 12 mths RV Board/mgt/staff have now locked in c$2b of future revenue https://t.co/cNMwHKP8D6

— Andrew Jones (@RacingVicCEO) March 2, 2024

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There was also a widely held view among participants that Racing Victoria was not listening to their concerns, and that RV had not made any inroads on Racing NSW, who have led the way with innovation in racing since establishing The Everest in 2017.

Racing Victoria’s All-Star Mile has also been seen as a disappointment, which has led to widespread calls for the concept to be scrapped, or drastically changed.

Jones raised the eyebrows of many when he told the Asian Racing Conference in February last year that race clubs should look at ditching dress codes and “let people wear what they want”.

He was also behind a plan to push back the Cox Plate to November, which was met with widespread backlash.

In an interview with industry broadcaster RSN on Friday, acting chairman Mike Hirst said “there has been speculation for a long period of time” about Jones’ tenure as CEO.

“Andrew has come to the view that given we’re going to have a new chair, and essentially a new board with three new directors, perhaps the time for a reset is now,” Hirst said.

“His appetite for change ... was perhaps greater than the appetite for change the industry had.”

McLachlan is expected to be appointed new chairman of Racing Victoria in the next few weeks.

Two weeks ago, he formally applied to be a new director at RV, which is a vital step in him becoming chairman.

READ | Racing Victoria’s plan for live tactics to jockeys during a race

Anthony Carbines with Gillon McLachlan at last year’s Cox Plate. Picture: Mark Stewart

If McLachlan is approved as a director, he would then face a vote to become chairman.

Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines, who is a personal supporter of McLachlan, would then have to sign off on his appointment.

If McLachlan gets the chairman’s gig, it will pit him head-to-head with his former NRL foe, Peter V’Landys, who is the long-serving chief executive of Racing NSW.

READ | Analysis: ‘Serious ramifications’ loom with Gillon McLachlan appointment

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Hirst and Greg Nichols, the longest serving director on the board, will vacate their positions before June 30.

Jones’ departure will now turn the focus to the future of others on the executive team appointed by Jones, including former North Melbourne CEO, Ben Amarfio (Executive GM - Customer), and executive GM of racing, Matt Welsh.

The Racing Victoria annual report stated the cost of “key management personnel” at the organisation was $3.9 million in the year ending June 30, 2023.

READ | Racing Victoria chief looking to Formula One to shake-up racing

In the statement, Hirst thanked Jones for his service.

“Andrew brought fresh eyes and ideas to our industry, and on behalf of the Board I acknowledge the significant contribution he has made,” Hirst said.

“He challenged the industry to be more ambitious, and to rethink everything from programming and prizemoney distribution, to growing the fanbase and participant and equine welfare.

Interim CEO Aaron Morrison (far right).

READ | New Racing Victoria CEO Andrew Jones: So who is he?

“In the face of a declining wagering environment, his leadership has been instrumental in sustaining an industry which supports more than 25,000 jobs across the state.

“As the outgoing chairman I join Andrew in wishing the board, under a new chair, and a new CEO every success.”

It is understood Morrison, who has worked at Racing Victoria since 2017, will throw his hat in the ring for the top job.

The new board is expected to conduct an international search for a new CEO.

Racing Victoria has not had a permanent chairman since Brian Kruger left the role on June 30 last year.

Jones, who replaced Giles Thompson after five years in the role, started as CEO on July 11, 2022.

Earlier this month, the chief executive of the powerful Victoria Racing Club, Steve Rosich, also quit.

Rosich, who was a critic of Jones, has been linked to the vacant CEO role at St Kilda Football Club.

Jones’ and Rosich’s resignations follow closely behind the resignation of Tabcorp chief executive Adam Rytenskild last month.

Rytsenskild was allegedly pulled up for using “inappropriate and offensive language” at work when referring to a female racing figure.

Originally published as Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones has quit after less than two years in the job