New chief executive for British Cycling

Ian Drake will be British Cycling's new chief executive (British Cycling )

British Cycling chief executive Peter King is to stand down at the end of the year, with his deputy Ian Drake taking his place.

Mr King will continue to work with the UK's national governing body for sport as an executive director and focus on external projects linked to the London 2012 Olympics.

British Cycling president Brian Cookson OBE said: “I'd like to thank Peter King for the superb job he has done over the past 12 years. It's no exaggeration to say that he has been pivotal in transforming British Cycling from near-bankruptcy to a world-leading governing body. Thanks to Peter, British Cycling is recognised at the highest levels of government as a sound, effective and reliable body, and the benefits of this can be seen in the achievements and developments in our sport over the past 12 years.”

Mr Drake has worked with British Cycling since 1996. He helped develop the organisation's youth coaching, talent identification and development programmes, and has been the driving force behind the 2005-to-2009 “UK-Wide One-Stop Plan” to increase levels of cycling.

Mr Cookson said: “In Ian Drake, I am convinced that we have found a worthy successor. Ian’s knowledge and experience on the participation, governance and excellence aspects of our business is second to none. He has also led the planning process for 2009-2013. Ian has the full confidence and support of both myself and the board, and we are looking forward to working with him in his new role".

Mr Drake said: “I am both delighted and proud to step up into the role of chief executive of British Cycling and lead the organisation into its next phase of expansion and growth. It’s a unique moment in time for cycling and British Cycling given the successes in Beijing, the growth in the sport, the contribution cycling has to make to so many government agendas and, of course, London 2012 on the horizon."

News of Mr King's departure was revealed at British Cycling’s annual National Council meeting on Saturday. Mr Drake will take over as chief executive from 1 January 2009.

Mr King said: “I am pleased that the board has accepted my recommendation that Ian should take up the role of chief executive. He has been my deputy for more than a year, during which time he has demonstrated that he is the right man to lead British Cycling in delivering the next four-year plan which he has himself masterminded. 

“When I wrote my survival plan for British Cycling in 1997, I started with my own personal mission statement. This was to be able to hand over, to the right person and at the right time, the best run governing body in British sport. In my assessment we are now the best run governing body in British sport, the time is right to hand over the helm and I am able to do so now to the right person.”

British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford MBE said: "London 2012 presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all sport in the UK and in Ian we have the right person to capitalise on that for cycling in all its forms.”

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