Penny Briscoe named as ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for 2018
Penny Briscoe OBE has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB for the third consecutive Paralympics Games. Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association (BPA) will take up the position of Secretary-General. Together, they will lead a two-strand Senior Leadership Team for the Paralympics Games in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018.
Following on from her leadership role at the helm of ParalympicsGB in Rio, where Penny led the ParalympicsGB team to its most successful Paralympic Games performance ever. Penny will now take charge of the preparation of the team for the winter Games.
The ParalympicsGB Senior Leadership Team for PyeongChang is also confirmed today, with Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the BPA, to take the position of Secretary-General once again.
The division of responsibilities is one that has been utilised successfully at previous Games and splits the leadership into those with responsibility for the sport and those with responsibility for the BPA’s wider engagement and business.
Speaking today, Tim Hollingsworth said:
“Choosing the Chef de Mission for Pyeongchang was a simple and pleasurable task and in Penny we have a world-leading Chef in charge. I am delighted she has accepted the role.
“We have developed a successful leadership model over the previous three Paralympic Games and will continue to do so for PyeongChang. By splitting the leadership under the overall direction of the President into the team side, led by the Chef de Mission, and the organisation side, which I will be responsible for, we know we can get the balance right. It allows the focus of the Chef de Mission to stay rightly with the team while allowing the Secretary-General team’s focus to be on all aspects of ParalympicsGB’s presence at the Games off the field of play, including partner support, stakeholder and international relations.
“Both the Board and myself have complete confidence in Penny and her team’s ability to deliver the best prepared team to Pyeongchang in March 2018.”
Talking about her appointment, Penny Briscoe OBE said:
“It’s a huge honour to be appointed as Chef de Mission for PyeongChang and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead our winter team once again. It’s a very exciting time for winter para sport and I am looking forward to supporting athletes and staff from both snow and ice sports consolidate the fantastic performances delivered back in Sochi. We have an ambition to be best prepared for every winter and summer Games and I will be working hard alongside colleagues to ensure this happens.”
Briscoe will be well supported as Chef de Mission, with an experienced leadership team appointed to assist her. Tim Hollingsworth will be supported by Deputy Secretary-Generals Anna Scott-Marshall, BPA Director of Communications, and Karl Reynolds, BPA Commercial Director. Both Anna and Karl held the same position at Rio 2016.
The Deputy Chef de Mission team comprises:
- Georgina Sharples – Deputy Chef de Mission (Performance)
- Verity Naylor – Deputy Chef de Mission (Operations)
- Tash Carpenter – Chief Press Officer
- Phil Smith – Deputy Chef de Mission (Games Services)
All of the newly confirmed Senior Leadership Team for PyeongChang, worked at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. This continuity will provide effective planning and delivery for ParalympicsGB winter team in the run up and during the Games in 2018.
The position of President of the team, previously held by Tim Reddish as Chairman of the BPA, will be confirmed after the election process for a new Chairman has been completed on 28 February.
