BOA limits tenure of chairman to 12 years
Source: www.insidethegames.biz By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
November 5 - Colin Moynihan will have to stand down as chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) in 2017 after he himself help introduce a new rule which limits the term of the position to 12 years.
It is the most eye-catching of several rule changes proposed by Moynihan following a nine-month review and which are designed to help modernise the BOA, which was founded in 1905.
"We have ensured that the governance of the [BOA] meets the highest standards of governance of the leading companies in the country," Moynihan told insidethegames.
"That means transparency, it means accountability, it means elections, it means responsible autonomy.
"These are far-reaching changes that I warmly welcome."
Moynihan, who was elected to replace Sir Craig Reedie as chairman of the BOA in 2005 shortly after London were awarded the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, claimed that the changes will keep driving the organisation forward.
Sir Craig had served as chairman for 13 years.
"What we have here is democratic accountability," he said.
"I think you need to have term limits - you need to be able to refresh the organisation."
Members of the BOA's Board will also have a limited tenure and they will all be subject to more scrutiny than is the case at the moment.
"We are going to undertake evaluations of all the Board members, including the chairman," said Moynihan.
"We are going to have key performance indicators for the chairman."
The BOA also plans to follow the Government and begin moving its Board meetings around the United Kingdom so that in future they will be held in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as the headquarters in London.
Moynihan is also to oversee the appointment of new non-voting independent Board members.
"Firstly to chair the audit committee and secondly for Board members for strong commercial and legal background," he said.
The elections for the sport representatives to the BOA Board are also to be staggered and will now take place every two years, rather than four.
The BOA Board has also decided to postpone the next elections of the chairman and vice-chairman.
They are currently due to take place after London 2012.
"If you have elections straight after the Games you lose the continuity when there are still things to be sorted out," said Moynihan.
One immediate change, though, is that the BOA has elected a new winter sports representative onto the BOA Board.
Hew Chalmers, the director of British Curling, replaces David Cranston, who is stepping down both from his position on the BOA Board and British Biathlon Union Board.
"I am delighted to join the BOA Board and look forward to working with them to further develop winter sports here in the UK," said Chalmers.
"I will also support existing relationships to ensure that the BOA continues to have a strong independent and powerful voice both here in the UK and internationally.
"[London] 2012 is a unique opportunity and will shine a bright light on all Olympic sports, summer and winter, creating the platform to transform lives through the power of the Olympic values and success of Team GB."
Editor's Note: Since 1997, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) has established a two term(8 years) limit on its executive officers with the exception of the secretary general and trustees positions.