Press Release

John Williamson, Chairman of the UK Tote Group, said: "We are pleased to welcome Andrew to the UK Tote Group Board. His extensive business expertise and deep understanding of the racing industry make him well placed to support our strategy and the execution of our exciting growth plans, both in the UK and internationally. We are delighted to have Andrew join the team.”

Andrew Weir said: “As the UK Tote approaches its centenary, it is an honour to join the board and contribute to the company’s future development. My business experience and roles in Hong Kong and Internationally have shown me the importance of global partnerships and international collaboration in advancing the sport. I look forward to working closely with the Board, Alex Frost and the wider Tote team to help further the organisation’s ambitions.”

 ENDS.

For further information, please contact:

Susannah Gill
Communications and Corporate Affairs Director
UK Tote Group
susannah.gill@uktotegroup.com
+44 (0)7751 870 929

Notes to editors

Andrew Weir Biography

Andrew Weir FCA MBE BBS JP is a Board director and Corporate Governance advisor. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow and elected Council Member of both the ICAEW and the Institute of Directors and is a Fellow of the HKICPA. He has extensive experience of boards and corporate governance including best practice in business risk and strategy, board effectiveness and leadership, audit and risk committees and business in the community.

He has over 35 years of auditing, finance, advisory and professional governance experience from his senior roles at KPMG servicing boards and audit committees of listed companies, financial services, public bodies, investment funds, and family offices in Hong Kong, UK, Asia and the Middle East across a broad range of sectors.

Andrew is an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong , a leading note issuing regulated bank and also FWD Holdings, a leading pan-Asia regulated insurer and sits on the respective Audit Committees and Risk Committees.

Andrew is Chairman of Pacific Basin Economic Council.

Andrew is an elected Steward and Board Member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and chairs its Audit Committee and sits on its Governance Committee, Nomination Committee, Finance Committee and Investment Committee. He is a Trustee of The Jockey Club Trust, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organisations.

Andrew was made MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017 for his contribution to trade and investment link between Hong Kong, China and the UK and was awarded Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors for his services to the NGO sector. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2020 and awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star for services to Hong Kong as an International Finance Centre in 2024.

About UK TOTE GROUP

The UK Tote Group is the proud owner and steward of the Tote, the UK’s leading pool betting operator since 1928.

UK Tote Group investors are passionate about horseracing. They include owners and the Racehorse Owners Association, breeders and individuals based in the UK and globally.

The Tote is working with stakeholders across horseracing in the UK, Ireland and globally to revitalise and grow pool betting to ensure it is part of a sustainable and successful future for the sport.

The Tote is the pool partner to the major racecourses in Britain, and all Irish racecourses ensuring they benefit from every pool bet. The UK Tote Group is proud to be able to work with them, along with media rights and bookmaker partners to bring innovations and improvements to all of its customer channels, including those within its digital business, through the Tote website (tote.co.uk/tote.ie) and the Tote App.

The Tote is a founding member of the World Tote Association and plays an active role in encouraging collaboration between pool betting operators around the globe. Central to this international collaboration is World Pool which is creating huge pools for racing fans from around the globe to bet into and providing substantial new funding for horseracing.

The Tote employs 200 people who are based in the Tote’s main office in Wigan and its satellite office in London

For more information, please visit www.uktotegroup.com and www.tote.co.uk and follow us @UKToteGroup and @ToteRacing.