The Swim England Board

Richard Hookway (Chair)

Richard, a former board member of Centrica and chief executive of Centrica Business, officially began a four-year term in the role on Wednesday 1 September. He has a wealth of experience in business, finance and technology and has extensive first-hand knowledge of corporate governance. Richard has a BSc in Mathematics from Manchester University and an MSc in Management (Sloan Fellow) from Stanford University in the US. His love of aquatics stems from his three children who are all still involved in the sport through swimming, water polo and triathlon.

Aysha Kidwai (Board Champion Equality, Diversity & Inclusion / Independent)

Aysha has 25 years’ experience in brand management, largely across the Retail, Media and Consumer Products industries. She has held senior leadership roles in major International corporates, SMEs and has also run her own management consultancy (Indigo Lens LTD). Aysha supports a number of digital and tech SMEs, particularly female or BAME led enterprises, and has championed embedding experiential marketing campaigns to encourage greater grassroots participation across sports, physical activity, health and wellbeing for all ages.

Andy Salmon (CEO)

Andy Salmon joined Swim England as chief executive in February 2024 from British Triathlon, where he had been at the helm for the previous six years. A father of two, Andy has held leadership roles at various sporting organisations throughout his career, including The Professional Golfers’ Association, the Ladies’ Golf Union, Scottish Golf and Triathlon Scotland. He became chief executive at British Triathlon in November 2017 and helped steer the organisation through the launch of a new strategy, the publication and media launch of the transgender policy, the delivery of the World Triathlon Series events, which attracted live BBC and global TV coverage, plus the GO TRI participation programme. Upon joining Swim England, Andy said he was ‘extremely proud and honoured to be given the chance to help tackle the challenges of accessibility and opportunity so that even more people can experience the joy of aquatic activity’. Andy has a love of sport and physical activity outside of work and enjoys taking part in triathlons, open water swimming, anything ‘in and on the water’, rugby and golf.

Joan Wheeler (Member Nominated)

Joan was a competitive swimmer as a child and renewed her involvement in swimming when her children joined the local club. Having held the position of Club Chair for nine years, Joan progressed to the County Executive, being President twice, and became Regional Chair in 2013. Joan is also a qualified swimming judge and referee and continues to volunteer at a range of club, county and regional competitions. Joan is a qualified project manager and worked as a middle manager in a range of governance and policy development roles.  She is also chair of the Sport Operations Committee.

Katie Walcott-Greenwood (Independent)

Katie was a former competitive swimmer during her childhood. Swimming has an impact on all aspects of her life, citing the discipline, commitment and determination that competitive swimming instils as shaping her as an adult, mum and a professional. Katie has held a number of different leadership roles during a 10-year career with HSBC after initially qualifying as a chartered accountant with PwC.

Neil Booth (Welfare, Safeguarding & Safety Board Director / Member Nominated)

Neil has been involved as a member of his club for over 25 years and has successfully carried out the various officer roles within his Club. He was a founder member of the management board of the North West Region and, following retirement in 2007 from a long career in the police service, he has evolved into a ‘full time’ volunteer within the sport. Neil is a British Swimming Referee and is currently involved in developing material and delivering training for swimming technical officials.

Carrie Ryan (Independent)

Carrie Ryan has been appointed to the Board as a trustee, independent non-executive director and chair of Swim England Trading Limited. A keen swimmer, Carrie is vice-president and global head of strategy and business development at Dutch-based investment group Prosus and has previously held senior management roles at Nike and eBay. She is also a qualified swimming teacher and spent five years swimming, including volunteering to work with under-privileged children and youngsters with disabilities.

Sara Todd (Member Nominated Director)

Sara Todd is an accomplished procurement leader and executive coach with over 30 years of experience across the automotive, pharmaceutical, and FMCG sectors. Throughout her global career, she has led major transformation initiatives, fostered collaboration with international partners, and championed cultural change and people development.

A lifelong advocate for sport and community involvement, Sara is a qualified swimming official and currently serves as Chair of the Swim England South East Regional Board. She is also one of three Nominated Swim England Directors on the Aquatics GB Board. Her passion for swimming began through her daughters’ involvement in the sport and has evolved into a commitment to strengthening the sport from grassroots to elite levels.

Since retiring from full-time work in 2023, Sara has focused on applying her leadership skills to support the future of aquatics in England.

Howard Marsh (Independent)

Howard brings a deep appreciation for the value of sport and the importance of strong, stable governance in helping communities thrive as he joins the Board as an independent member.

A chartered accountant by background, Howard is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Alliance Medical Group, a pan-European diagnostic imaging provider, where he has been for the past 17 years. Previously, he worked within a Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 software firm in a variety of senior finance roles and initially trained at KPMG, giving him extensive experience in financial leadership, governance and risk management.

For the last nine years, he has served as a Non-Executive Director at British Gymnastics, where he also chaired the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. His time there strengthened his commitment to supporting national governing bodies and ensuring that grassroots sport continues to flourish.

When his term ended in 2025, Howard was eager to remain involved in a foundation sport and says he was “delighted to be able to join Swim England”.

Keith Munday (Member Nominated)

Keith joins the Board, after being member elected, with 29 years of service to aquatics at club, county and national levels. His commitment to creating accessible, supportive and positive sporting environments is reflected throughout his volunteer work.

He currently chairs Sandwell Aquatics Club and nationally contributes to the Sports Operations Committee, the Health and Safety Forum and the Artistic Swimming Leadership Group.

Previously, he served as Chair of Boldmere Swimming and Water Polo Club, overseeing a period of considerable growth and helping shape an “open, accessible, and safe environment with a consensual collaborative approach.” He is also a qualified swimming referee and sits on the Warwickshire County ASA committee.

Alongside his extensive volunteering, Keith brings significant senior leadership and entrepreneurial experience. He has founded and led successful organisations in highly regulated industries, including Bryt Energy, a zero-carbon electricity supplier built into an industry-leading business. His career has included extensive work with Government and regulators, particularly OFGEM, alongside a strong track record in building high-performing teams, managing risk and driving sustainable growth.

Max Sherrard (Independant)

Max Sherrard joins the Board with significant legal and sporting expertise. He is a solicitor specialising in commercial and sports dispute resolution at Quastels LLP, having trained at Allen & Overy in the City of London.

Max has experience working on high-value international commercial law and civil fraud cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has also conducted high-profile investigations across sport, commerce and financial services, advising on regulatory and internal investigations.

His practice regularly involves advising athletes, clubs, national governing bodies and agents on a wide range of sporting issues.

Swimming also plays a central role in Max’s life. He has swum from a young age and currently focuses on open water swimming and triathlons. He has also found renewed enjoyment in swimming through taking his son to lessons.

Alongside swimming, Max is passionate about sport more broadly, including playing cricket and competing in triathlons.

Alex Cunningham (Independant)

Alex Cunningham brings extensive experience in safeguarding and child protection, with a professional background spanning social work, risk consultancy, public policy and international development.

She currently works as a Safeguarding Risk Consultant for Zurich and is also a freelance children’s safeguarder, representing children’s views in court processes in Scotland.

Alex specialises in safeguarding strategy, risk assessment, child protection investigations and organisational safeguarding compliance across public, voluntary and regulated sectors.