Barry Hearn stapt terug, Eddie Hearn nieuwe directeur Matchroom Sport

Eddie Hearn zal de nieuwe voorzitter worden van Matchroom Sport Group of Companies, nadat Barry Hearn na bijna 40 jaar zijn rol inruilt voor president in een adviserende rol.

Eddie zal voorzitter worden van de Group of Companies, Matchroom Sport, Professional Darts Corporation, Matchroom Boxing, Matchroom Boxing USA, Matchroom Media en de PGA EuroPro Tour.

Steve Dawson zal de rol van Hearn overnemen als voorzitter van World Snooker na het Snooker WK van dit jaar. Matthew Porter wordt de voorzitter van Matchroom Multi Sport en Katie Hearn wordt de CEO van Matchroom Media.

Hearn richtte in 1982 het sportpromotiebedrijf op en had enorm succes met het snooker. Daarna ging hij zich ook focussen op Boxing, Darts, Pool en Tenpin Bowling en nog meer verschillende sporten.

Tijdens de jaren '90 veranderde Hearn kleine sporten in grote TV-evenementen door middel van innovatieve ideeën.

In 2001 kreeg hij een groot aandeel in de PDC en in 2010 in World Snooker, waarna deze partijen gezamenlijk werden werkten.

BARRY HEARN: "It has been a huge honour to have worked with some of the greatest sports people on the planet across the last 40 years and enjoyed so many wonderful experiences across our spectrum of events in that time, from snooker's glory days of the 1980s to record-breaking boxing shows and the incredible growth of professional darts, as we have created opportunities for thousands of sportsmen and women during that time.

Great challenges have been met, but none more so than the Covid pandemic. I have been determined to stay in charge until this disaster passed and now there is light at the end of the tunnel and I believe it is the right time to pass control of Matchroom to my son Eddie and the brilliant teams we have assembled across all our activities.

I shall continue to be available to all Matchroom companies as non-executive President, an advisory role concentrating on group strategy and global expansion, but Eddie will be elevated to Group Chairman with overall responsibility for the entire group.

I could not be prouder of the Matchroom Group of Companies and the outstanding teams that operate in a highly competitive marketplace.

Matchroom has grown from two employees operating in an office under a snooker hall in Romford in 1982, to the global powerhouse it is today due to the efforts and performances of all our staff, contractors, broadcasters, and partners.

I know the company is in good hands with Eddie at the helm and with my daughter Katie heading up Matchroom Media, Matt Porter at the PDC, Frank Smith at Matchroom Boxing, Emily Frazer at Matchroom Multi Sport, Steve Dawson my Chief Executive for over 30 years and Dan Godding at the PGA EuroPro Tour, along with all their teams.

Now is the time to give all Matchroom employees the opportunity to take this great British company to the next level and beyond."

EDDIE HEARN: "Anyone that knows me is well aware of what Matchroom means to me and our family. It has a legacy that spans 40 years from a small office under a snooker hall in Romford to a global powerhouse of sports entertainment.

My father has dedicated his life to the company and since I joined in 2004 I have done the same.

Now a greater responsibility falls on my shoulders and I am very proud to continue his great work and lead the business and the incredible team that we have built at Matchroom.

We have seen astounding growth in the last ten years but we have only just begun. I look forward to continuously evolving and continuing the global growth of this astonishing family business."