British Elite Athletes Association CEO Anna Watkins MBE is to leave her role after the 2024 Paris Games, enabling her successor to lead the organisation from the start of the full LA 2028 cycle.
Anna has guided the BEAA through an intense period of development, rebranding the association and building the team to support and represent Britain’s elite athlete community. In her next steps she will seek a role where she can balance her career ambitions alongside time with her young family.
A former Athlete Board Member, Anna re-joined the then-British Athletes Commission in early 2022 as a consultant. Upon being appointed CEO the same year she oversaw a period of unprecedented progression, including the association’s rebrand and an expansion of staff numbers.
She also pioneered the digital community for elite athlete alumni and the Athlete Advisory Forum, and as a double Olympic medallist promoted athletes’ interests across the high-performance sports system. During her time the BEAA continued its one-to-one athlete support while significantly increasing its involvement in selection meetings, workshops and policy reviews.
Recruitment for a new CEO is underway and an appointment is expected to be confirmed after the 2024 Paralympic Games. Anna will remain in post until such a time and assist with the transition to new leadership.
BEAA Chair Dominic Mahony MBE said: “Anna joined the BEAA at a pivotal stage and leaves the association in excellent shape for the future, with a highly capable team pulling in a clear direction. Her tireless work championed Britain’s elite athletes with passion and dedication, and they are better supported and represented as a result. I’d like to wish her the very best in her next steps and thank her for her time at the British Elite Athletes Association.”
Anna added: “It was a difficult decision to leave the BEAA but I am proud of the association’s many achievements over recent years. It has been an honour to further strengthen the country’s independent athlete association, as well as support and representation for Britain’s elite athletes more widely. I would like to thank every one of my colleagues for their efforts during my time as CEO and to extend that gratitude to those partners who supported us. I’m excited to see the BEAA’s continued progress in the coming years and know that Britain’s elite athletes are in safe hands. In the meantime, we have plenty of work to do supporting our members through the summer and I’m looking forward to continuing to work in their interests over a busy few months.”
The staff and Board of the BEAA would like to place on record their immense thanks to Anna for her work as CEO, and to wish her well for the future.
