To this gentleman is entrusted the fate of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Mark Turner will be the new CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race. Turner who has been an ocean sailor having taken part in, among others, the Whitbread Round-the-World in 1989, led the Dongfeng Race Team project in the 2014/15 round-the-world edition and will take office as Knut Frostad’s successor next June 7.

The British manager, 48, said,“There is probably no other position I could have aspired to today after taking OC Sport through so many different areas of the sport over the past twenty years. Taking over from Knut, who has done an extraordinary job transforming the regatta into sailing’s largest and most commercially important event, is a significant responsibility. As the regatta with the highest media and commercial return and with a long and fascinating history dating back to 1973, the responsibilities to not only Volvo, sponsors, partners and teams but also to the sailing world in general is great. The Volvo Ocean Race is a platform that can help reshape our sport.” “I hope,” Turner added, “to add new value and vision to the already excellent work being done by the Alicante team, and to be able in the future to inspire and engage even more enthusiasts, sailors and sponsors.”

RESUME OF AN OCEAN SAILOR (AND ORGANIZER)
Mark Turner has taken part in many of the world’s most important ocean races, including the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Mini Transat, although his name has risen to the forefront of the sailing news in connection with the participation and splendid second-place finish of sailor Ellen MacArthur at the 2001 Vendée Globe, a project coordinated by Turner himself, who in 2005 also held the reins of the British sailor’s solo circumnavigation record, achieving a level of popularity in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world that had never before been achieved. Later, with OC Sport, Turner created the Extreme Sailing Series circuit and many other successful events.

“My personal chapter with OC Sport is drawing to a close, but I am confident that the spirit and results will continue given the strong team I leave behind. It has been an honor to work with so many motivated and talented people over the years, and I am proud to have been able to create sporting events that inspire the most diverse people. OC Sport has empowered me to challenge the norm and innovate in many areas, something I am sure the company will continue to do.” He declared. Turner, who left his role as executive director and shareholder of OC Sport, is also an avid cyclist, swimmer and skier and will now take a rest before tackling his new responsibilities in the Volvo Ocean Race, whose 13th edition will start in October 2017.

Biographical notes:

Born: Isle of Wight, England, in July 1967
1985-90: On the Royal Navi force as an officer
1989-90: Participates in the Whitbread Round the World Race aboard British Defender.
1989-92: Marketing and sales director of Winning Winches.
1992-98: Marketing director d Spinlock
1993-2016: Founder and executive chairman of OC Sport
June 2016: CEO of Volvo Ocean Race