Svensk Galopp’s chairman, Björn Nilsson, chose over the weekend to step down with immediate effect. He leaves both the chairmanship and his seats on the boards of Svensk Galopp and Svensk Galopp AB.
Svensk Galopp announced the news in a press release on Monday afternoon.
The background is the disagreement between the federation’s three owners – Stockholms Galoppsällskap, Skånska Fältrittklubben and Göteborgs Galoppsällskap – which has intensified ahead of the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting and the decision on a new racecourse in Skåne.
“Our owners, Stockholms Galoppsällskap, Skånska Fältrittklubben and Göteborgs Galoppsällskap, have over the years held different views on how the sport should be developed, which to some extent is natural. But with the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting and the decision on a new racecourse in Skåne, the tone has sharpened to such a degree that I can no longer continue as chairman and member of the board. I have raised this in direct dialogue with the owning societies,” says Björn Nilsson in the release.
The board and the council of representatives have been informed, and vice-chairman Gisela Jardby now leads the board’s work.
“It was with dismay that I received the news from Björn. He has done an incredible job for the sport in turning our financial development around and in laying the groundwork for the decisions we now face. On behalf of the board I would like to thank him for an outstanding contribution over these years,” says Gisela Jardby.
Read the original announcement on Svensk Galopp’s website here.
