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Henley Royal Regatta’s CEO and Secretary, Daniel Grist, will leave the organization, effective at the end of October 2026.
“After 36 years with the organization and 20 years in role, I think now, especially after the very successful regatta this year, is the right time to make this move,” Grist said, “It’s been an amazing and, sometimes, challenging journey and I am incredibly proud of the role I have played in helping shape the Regatta over the years, steering it through various ‘choppy waters’ and helped it to it grow.”
From Grist’s first days at the regatta to now, the full-time staff has grown from six to 20, with an annual revenues of over $13 million. Last year’s event drew a record entry of 862 crews, 130 more than just three years ago. Henley, founded in 1839, is the best-known rowing regatta in the world, renowned for its match-racing, fancy-dress Stewards’ Enclosure, and some of the best youth, university, club, and national team racing in the world.
Richard Phelps, Chair and Interim CEO of Henley Royal Regatta said, “On behalf of the Stewards of HRR, I want to take this opportunity to thank Daniel for his amazing tenure as Secretary & Chief Executive of the Regatta. He has helped steer us through good times, tough times, wet Regattas and, more recently, hot Regattas. He departs having set the bar high and leaving his imprint all over this amazing event. We wish him well and he leaves with our heartfelt thanks.”
