ParalympicsGB appoints Dan Brooke as new Chair

Dan Brooke has been appointed Chair of ParalympicsGB following an extensive recruitment process.

He was Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer and a Board member at Channel 4, a period covering four Summer and Winter Paralympic Games including London 2012, during which he championed the broadcaster’s relationship with the Paralympic movement.

Dan has deep connections with the Paralympic movement as was previously a member of ParalympicsGB’s Social Impact Committee and served on the Global Brand Advisory group at the International Paralympic Committee.

Before that he was Managing Director of Discovery Channels UK and Channel 4’s digital channels, launching the Film4 and E4 channels.

Dan said: “My lifelong love affair with Paralympic Sport was sparked by London 2012 and snowballed into a lifelong mission for disability inclusion.

“I am honoured to renew my vows with this precious movement and cannot wait to help ParalympicsGB take on the world at Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 and help change the world for people with disabilities in the process.”

Dan, who is CEO of Smart Energy GB, will succeed Professor Nick Webborn CBE who has held the role since 2017 and has now served the maximum eight years across two terms.

Nick said: “It has been an honour and privilege to be Chair of ParalympicsGB for the past eight years.

“There is so much to be proud of - outstanding performances at Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, creating a meaningful social impact approach and a new athlete community are but a few.

“I would like to thank the athletes, staff, board members and wider membership for their unwavering support and hope to continue to be involved in the evolution of the Paralympic movement which is so close to my heart.”

During his time with Channel 4, Dan was Board Champion for Diversity & Inclusion and oversaw two globally award-winning Paralympic marketing campaigns with the UK broadcaster widely viewed as the world’s leading Paralympic broadcaster.

Sir Philip Craven, who was President of the IPC from 2001-2017, said: “I first met Dan when Channel 4 was putting together all their innovative plans for the London 2012 Paralympics.

“He amazed me on how he and his team brought a rare passion and capability to their novel and tremendously successful treatment of the Paralympic Games.

“Dan has an incredible aptitude for hard work, but it is his passion for Para sports and Para athletes that makes him such an excellent successor to Nick.

“He will have big boots to fill as Nick has done a superb job, but I think Dan is a great choice to continue to drive forward the Paralympic movement in the UK.”

Dan was the UK Government’s Media Sector Champion for disability employment, and on the Advisory Board for One Young World 2019.

In 2018, he was awarded a Fellowship from the Royal Television Society and is a Non-Executive Chair of the British Independent Film Awards a position he steps down from in May after serving the maximum of two terms.