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UK Sport chief executive Nicholl to step down in mid-2019

FILE PHOTO - British Olympic Association Press Conference - Clifford Chance, The Auditorium, 10 Upper Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London - 12/7/05 Director of Performance UK Sport, Liz Nicholl during the press conference Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Oliver Greenwood Livepic (Reuters)

(Reuters) - UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl will leave her role in the summer of 2019 after 20 years in a leadership position at the organisation, the British governing body said on Tuesday http://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/2018/11/13/nicholl-announces-intention-to-step-down-after-incredible-20-years-at-uk-sport.

Nicholl joined UK sport in 1999 and has played a pivotal role in the growth of Team GB and Paralympics GB through a strategy of performance-centred investment.

In her first 10 years, Nicholl led the work of the Performance Directorate before taking over as the chief executive in 2010.

During her tenure, London hosted the 2012 Olympics, with Team GB finishing third on the medal tally with 65 medals. This was followed by a second-placed finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics with 67 medals.

"I have shared a very special journey with everyone that has been part of our very successful high performance system over the past 20 years," Nicholl said in a statement.

"Our athletes are undoubtedly among the very best prepared and supported in the world and I am confident that we can continue to build on the successes of recent Games."

UK Sport said it will begin searching for Nicholl's successor to ensure a smooth transition and handover ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)