Triathlon Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Kitchen as the new Chief Executive Officer. Chris is well placed to steer Triathlon Ireland through the substantial growth they are experiencing having many years’ experience in both business and sport, running a number of companies as well as being heavily involved in triathlon as a competitor, technical official, coach and Board member.
Chris got involved as an athlete in triathlon in the mid 80’s and went on to set up a local Triathlon club, Chiltern Triathletes, in 1989, acting as Club Secretary for many years and is still Club Coach. He became a race referee in 1992, Qualified as one of the first Level 3 Coaches in the UK in 1994, helped write and deliver the early Level 1 and 2 Coach Education programmes and has run many coaching days or weekends.
He competed for GB in the Age Group Team at the ITU World Long Distance Championships in Nice twice in the ‘90s. In 2002, he became the BTA Long Distance Elite Team Manager during a time which saw a series of World and European Champions. Chris has been the race director of numerous triathlon events including a Children’s Triathlon which is in its 15th year and acted as ITU Team Leader in World Championship events around the World.
He was one of the key players in the British Triathlon’s modernisation programme and in January 2007 was appointed as Director with the Performance Portfolio to the British Triathlon Board. He was a part of the Board which oversaw a transition to a company with substantial reserves, significant growth and medal success in London 2012. Heavily involved in the High Performance Programme, Chris led the strategic direction, chaired the elite selection panels across all disciplines and reported to the Board on Performance matters.
The ITU Congress in Auckland saw him re-elected onto the ITU Multisport Committee where he now acts as Chair in the strategic development of Duathlon, Long Distance Triathlon, Cross Triathlon, Winter Triathlon and Aquathlon worldwide.
With a business background in Document Management Systems, Software Development, IT Solutions and Website Development he has substantial management experience and commercial knowledge and understanding.
Commenting on his appointment Chris said. “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as CEO. Triathlon in Ireland is really buoyant and exciting with a growing membership supported by coaches and technical officials and of course some great events. I have a great team behind me, both staff and volunteers, a supportive board and I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do to help develop Triathlon Ireland for triathletes in Ireland.”
