DMA stalwart Mike Barnes joins British Eventing

Director of marketing & business development for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Mike Barnes is stepping down to join the equestrian organisation British Eventing.

Director of marketing & business development for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Mike Barnes is stepping down to join the equestrian organisation British Eventing.

Barnes will leave the DMA in April after 10 years in his position to take up the newly created role of commercial & marketing director at British Eventing.

His duties will be handled by DMA managing director James Kelly for the time being, as he considers the focus and challenge of the role for the next stage of DMA’s development. This will now form part of the association’s review of strategy and operations.

British Eventing is the governing body for the Horse Trials in Great Britain and regulates the sport together with scheduling more than 190 events throughout the country.

It has been through a strategic restructuring intended to strengthen to organisation over the next five years by enhancing membership value.

Kelly says: “I would like to thank Mike for the immense contribution he has made to the DMA over the years. In particular, his energy, enthusiasm and significant input to the DMA’s strategy and business planning have been invaluable. He has spearheaded many initiatives that have helped to ensure that the DMA remains a highly effective trade body.

“However, we’re always looking at new ways of developing the DMA to keep it at the forefront of the direct marketing industry. I will therefore be taking the opportunity to review the position in the wider context of the DMA’s priorities going forward and determine how it can best serve the interests of our members in these challenging times.