GB Hockey appoint new performance director

September 2, 2016

Great Britain and England Hockey have announced the appointment of Dr Ed Barney PhD as Performance Director.

Dr Barney’s track record of maximising performance, talent identification and strategic thinking made him the outstanding candidate for the role. With international experience in hockey, cricket and sailing, he brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to this pivotal role.

With the EuroHockey Championship next year and the Hockey World Cups in 2018, this appointment comes with great opportunities ahead for both our men’s and women’s teams.

CEO of England Hockey Sally Munday said “Ed’s track record speaks for itself, he was the outstanding candidate and the unanimous choice of the selection panel.

“We interviewed an exceptionally strong field and Ed shone throughout the process against candidates from across hockey, as well as other Olympic disciplines and global professional sports.

“We have seen first hand the great impact he has made in our performance department, and the quality of his leadership to the talent programme across Great Britain. With his previous experience in international cricket and sailing he will also add a different perspective in leading our Performance Department and I am confident his experience, coupled with his drive and focus, will enable us to achieve our ambition of being consistently ranked in the top three sides in the world for both women and men.”

Richard Leman, President of Great Britain Hockey, said, “The three-month process we have been through to make this appointment has been really challenging for the candidates and I am delighted for Ed in coming through the process so strongly. We are particularly grateful to Liz Nicholl and Simon Timson (CEO and Performance Director of UK Sport respectively) as well as Peter Keen (Performance Director at the LTA) and Mike Hay (Deputy Chef de Mission BOA) for their time in being part of the recruitment panels. Having their  independence and expertise to select Ed from the breadth of candidates we had apply was incredibly helpful.”

Ed Barney said “I am delighted to be appointed as Performance Director and am very much looking forward to building on the good work that has already taken place over a number of years.

“Our sport is in an amazing place after the women’s team’s success in Rio, and we are now presented with a great opportunity.

“We now need to be clinical in converting recent success into long term, systemic and consistent medal winning performance. I will be striving over the coming cycles to achieve this and I’m thoroughly looking forward to getting started.”