Posted on Wed, Jul. 16, 2008

World Equestrian Games chief organizer resigns

Quits equestrian event for personal reasons

By Jim Jordan and Linda B. Blackford

jjordan1@herald-leader.com, lblackford@herald-leader.com

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»  World Equestrian Games coverage

Jack Kelly, a leading organizer and self-described “public face” of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, announced his resignation Tuesday, effective July 31.

Kelly, 63, who has been chief executive officer of the World Games 2010 Foundation for about two years, said he was stepping down for “several personal reasons,” but he declined to elaborate.

Others, however, said the resignation was health-related.

“He has got some concerns about his energy levels for the next couple of years,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park where the games will begin Sept. 25, 2010.

“He could do this now (resign) and it works, but if he does it later, it doesn't; then you're really too close and have too many things up in the air,” Nicholson said.

In a prepared statement, Kelly said that “with the key ‘two years to go' anniversary fast approaching (Sept. 25), we have decided that now is the best time for me to step down.

“As members of the board and I have recently discussed, for several personal reasons and with the increased intensity through the games, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to fulfill what we agree is needed from a management role,” Kelly said.

“It has been my privilege to serve the World Games 2010 Foundation Board. We have accomplished a great deal and I feel confident about the organizational structure and staff we have put in place to stage the games.”

Kelly said he would continue as an adviser to the foundation for as long as he was needed.

‘Put a good team in place'

John Long, chairman of the foundation and CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, said Kelly “has served our board well with the sporting-event experience he brought to us, which has been instrumental in putting the staff and infrastructure in place to be where we are now.”

“He has helped us create a strong organization with a solid foundation for moving forward and for that, we are grateful,” Long said.

Until it can be determined whether a replacement for Kelly is needed, Long said Rob Hinkle, the foundation's chief operating officer, and Walter Herd, chief administrative officer, will oversee operations and report to Long.

“The board has not yet determined when or if an executive search will take place for a permanent CEO, but will do so in the next few months after we have had a chance to assess the new arrangement,” Long said.

In an interview, Long said he is “very, very confident” the games will not be affected by Kelly's resignation. “Jack has put a good team in place and I don't think we have anything to worry about,” he said.

The games, which will decide world champions in eight equestrian sports, are expected to attract more than 600,000 ticketed spectators from at least 60 countries.

The economic boost for Kentucky is expected to be $150 million-plus.

An estimated 800 athletes and 900 horses will take part in sports televised around the world and seen by 500 million people.

Jim Host, who helped bring the games to Kentucky and served as founding chairman of the foundation, said Kelly was the perfect choice to direct the games because he had already run several large sporting events, including the Goodwill Games.

“I think Jack put all the wheels in motion,” Host said. “They've built a really good staff.

“I know they have a lot of good things working, along with good sponsorship. It's all going the right way. I think they'll go through a proper search and find somebody they bring in or elevate someone off the staff,” Host said.

A good relationship

David Lord, a board member, said he was surprised by the resignation but he felt the organization was in good hands with Long and Hinkle.

“Things are in good shape as far as construction, monies and sponsorship has been moving very steadily,” he said. “From what I've been privy to on the board, everything is in very good shape. I don't know what all prompted this.”

Pearse Lyons, president of Alltech, the Nicholasville biotechnology company that is title sponsor of the games, said he had a good relationship with Kelly and was pleased with the organization Kelly had put together.

“I hate to see Jack go,” Lyons said. “He's done a very good job in getting us to where we are now.”

He said he was confident that the games organization can function successfully with or without a successor for Kelly.

Noting that Alltech agreed to pay $10 million to be the title sponsor, Lyons said, “I still maintain this is the best decision I ever made.”

Kelly said he and his wife, Kathy, plan to remain in Lexington and to continue supporting the games in any way they can.

Kelly is a native of Boston, but his career as a sports events organizer has taken him to 80 countries and to every major Olympic competition since 1986.

The first stage of his career included 14 years as an executive with Tenneco Inc. in Houston.

Later he was president of the 1990 Olympic Festival in Minneapolis, president and CEO of the Goodwill Games, president of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, and CEO of the Space City Sports Commission in Houston.

In December 2005, the Fédération Equestre Internationale awarded the 2010 games to Kentucky. Kelly was hired in mid-2006 to set up a staff and organize the event, which is held every four years.

Kelly described himself in a Herald-Leader interview as the “public face” of what is likely to be the largest sporting event ever held in the state.

“Sixteen days will be a real challenge and some people just can't do it,” Kelly said in 2007 at age 61. “It is a long haul. It will be a challenge even for me.”