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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Chairman of 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games Steps Down

Jack Kelly, CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation, late Tuesday announced he is leaving his post.

The foundation is organizing the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held Sept. 25 to Oct. 10, 2010, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

In a news release, Kelly said “several personal reasons” led to his decision to relinquish his role at the end of the month. He will remain with the foundation in an advisory role.

“With the key ‘two years to go’ anniversary fast approaching, we have decided that now is the best time for me to step down,” Kelly said in the release. “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.”

The foundation board of directors has not decided if it will conduct an executive search to replace Kelly, the foundation’s chairman, John Long, said in the news release.

In the interim, foundation chief operating officer Rob Hinkle, and chief administration officer Walter Herd, will report directly to Long.

“Jack 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,” Long said in the release.

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