Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Isaacs to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A highly respected senior leader with extensive experience in the wagering and racing sector, Isaacs will assume HRV responsibilities on January 31. 

Isaacs’ impressive resume includes successful stints at Tabcorp, Pacific Brands Australia, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Seminole Hard Rock Digital and Aristocrat Leisure Limited in the US.

From 2013-18, Isaacs worked at Tabcorp as General Manager of wagering and media, leading retail, customer, on course and field operations.

Most recently, he has served as Managing Director at Seminole Hard Rock Digital. Previously he held positions as Vice-President of Global Transformation and America’s Sales at Aristocrat Leisure Limited.

Isaacs takes the reins from former HRV CEO Dayle Brown, who took up an opportunity with Singapore Turf Club in September, and Chief Commercial Officer Fiona Mellor, who has been Interim CEO for the past four months.

HRV Chairman Dale Monteith welcomed Isaacs.

“This is an exciting time for Harness Racing Victoria. Our ambitious TROTS24 strategy shows our commitment to being globally recognised as the home of harness racing in Australia and the Board is confident Matthew is the right person to take this forward,” Monteith said.

“Matthew’s extensive experience at Tabcorp, as well as at sports betting companies in the US, puts him in the perfect position to carry on HRV’s trajectory. The foundations are in place for harness racing in Victoria to continue to prosper and we can be proud of where we are positioned nationally.

“I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Board, to also thank Interim CEO Fiona Mellor for the leadership she has displayed at HRV during such a pivotal time in recent months. Her leadership with the continued roll-out of the TROTS24 strategy together with the 2022 Inter Dominion and the floods crisis has been extremely important to the industry and its participants and we are thankful for it.”

Isaacs said he was looking forward to joining the HRV team and working with the industry to “accelerate the strategy delivery and transformation of the industry”.

“HRV has an excellent reputation within the racing industry, and I am looking forward to continuing the good work of the organisation, while taking it into a new era,” he said.

“I am excited to collaborate with our clubs, participants, government and commercial partners, exploring ideas that innovate and ignite our industry holistically for sustainable growth and allowing future reinvestment.”

Isaacs highlighted his “strong passion for understanding customers and their experiences” as a major strength, adding HRV was “at a point where we can push forward in this area and create a truly niche market for this wonderful sport”.

“I am excited by the opportunity to meet with all of our key stakeholders and discover more about harness racing.

“Leading this exciting industry with over 4500 passionate participants and contributing hundreds of millions of dollars economically to Victoria, particularly in regional Victoria, is a tremendous honour.”

Isaacs’ appointment comes on the eve of Victoria’s annual Summer of Glory trots carnival.