Our Founder and Board of Trustees

Our dedicated, knowledgeable Board of Trustees meet quarterly and steer our Managing Director and staff who carry out the day-to-day activities of the Foundation.

JOHN SIMPSON, MBE - FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

In 1978, John Simpson joined international management group (IMG) – the largest sports marketing, entertainment and media company in the world for the past 30 years. As Senior Vice President, John managed elite sportsmen such as Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman, Vijay Singh and Lord Sebastian Coe. In 1997 John left IMG and founded John Simpson Associates (JSA) which specialises in creating and managing international events, licensing and brand development, golf course development and design, client management and commercial consultancy.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

KEN SCHOFIELD, CBE - CHAIRMAN

For 30 years from 1975 to 2004, Ken was Executive Director of the European Tour during which time professional golf in Europe grew from an annual schedule of 17 events, offering prize money of £450,000 to - a total of 45 tournaments with players competing for over £70 million. During a period of unprecedented growth Ken globalised the Tour providing its members with opportunities to build lasting careers from playing professional golf. For his services to the game he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013. Ken’s involvement in golf continues as a broadcaster for Golf Channel and he has served as Chairman of the Trustees of On Course Foundation since July 2015.

DR TIM LEONARD

Tim Leonard retired from ophthalmic surgery in London in 2013 after many years at the Charing Cross Hospital as well as practicing at the London Clinic and Ashtead Hospital in Surrey. He is an accomplished golfer and a member of Royal St Georges, Walton Heath, West Sussex, the R&A and the Seniors Golfing Society. Tim has taken a particular interest in the potential health benefits of military personnel taking up golf with various disabilities.

NEIL COLES, MBE

Neil is one of the most respected figures in the world of professional golf over the past six decades having won 29 tournaments throughout his playing career and participated in eight Ryder Cups. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the European Tour for 38 years from 1975 to 2013 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. Neil is an international golf course designer and has served as a Trustee of On Course Foundation since July 2011.

SIR ANDREW GREGORY

Having joined the Royal Artillery in 1981, Andrew left the Army in 2016 and is now Controller/Chief Executive of SSAFA, 'the Armed Forces' Charity'. His recent military appointments were dealing with personnel issues and for his final three years he was Chief of Defence People, responsible to Ministers and to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force for all aspects of people policy. He established the concept behind and set in place the Army Recovery Capability. This supports wounded, injured and sick Service personnel to achieve a successful long term outcome and in the process understanding through various means. This includes sports such as golf, with the focus always on “what they can do”.

GILL FALDO

Gill worked for IMG during the early Eighties. As a former wife to a professional golfer she was obviously heavily involved with life on tour, both in Europe and the US, travelling globally and attending a total of six Ryder Cups. Alongside raising three children she has been involved in numerous charitable causes including sitting on Committees for, amongst others, The Golf Ball, Tim Henman’s Tee Party, Children in Crisis and The Bobby Moore Fund. Gill is honoured to be a Trustee of On Course Foundation and help injured Service personnel not only regain their competitive opportunities in sport but also transfer their military skills into a golfing workplace.

MICHAEL LAKE, CBE LVO

Michael served in the Armed Forces for almost 34 years before leaving in 1994. He followed this by becoming a Director of Help the Aged and led its merger with Age Concern to the creation of Age UK. After a period working for Prince Charles he has more recently served as Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society and was the Chairman of Trustees of Help for Heroes between November 2017 and December 2019. He was honoured with the CBE in 1995 and was made LVO in 2020. A keen golfer he is a member of both North Hants and West Cornwall Golf Clubs as well being a member of the MCC.