Rob Owen OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Foundation, taking over from Dominic Reid OBE in late February 2025.
The announcement was made by the Foundation on 20 December, marking a significant leadership transition after Reid’s decade-long tenure in the role.
Reid, who helped deliver the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014, announced in July that he would be stepping down from the position.
Owen will shadow Reid for several weeks before officially assuming the top position at the Foundation, which organises the international adaptive sports tournament for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the Invictus Games in February 2025.
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Lord Allen, chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment in a statement.
He said: “The Board of Trustees is thrilled to welcome Rob Owen OBE as our new CEO. Rob’s proven track record in building strong partnerships, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving innovative funding mechanisms makes him the ideal choice to lead the Foundation into its next chapter.”
Lord Allen highlighted the upcoming Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, noting the Foundation’s anticipation for Owen to build upon Reid’s legacy.
“As we look ahead to the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 this February, we are excited for Rob to build on the incredible momentum and global impact that Dominic Reid has established over the past decade,” he added.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle helped launch the countdown to the Games in February this year, attending the One Year to Go celebrations in Canada.
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Owen joins the Invictus Games Foundation following a 16-year tenure as CEO of St Giles Trust, a UK charity supporting individuals across various social issues.
Both outgoing and incoming CEOs shared positive statements about the leadership transition.
Reid expressed confidence in his successor, stating: “Rob’s outstanding leadership and empathy make him perfectly suited to take the Foundation forward, and I wish him every success.”
He reflected on his own tenure: “Leading the Invictus Games Foundation has been an immense privilege. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved in creating an enduring legacy of support for international wounded, injured, and sick Service personnel and veterans through the power of sport.”
Owen expressed enthusiasm about his new role: “I am honoured to be joining the Invictus Games Foundation, an organisation that has changed lives and saved lives over the past ten years, and inspired the world along the way.”
He added: “As the Foundation prepares for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, I am eager to start working alongside the team, our partners, and, most importantly, the incredible community of competitors and their families.”
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will mark two historic firsts for the international sporting event.
It will be the first time the Games return to a former host country, Canada, with the competition set for British Columbia from 8-16 February 2025.
The Games will also introduce winter sports for the first time, featuring alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle helped launch the countdown to the Games in February this year, attending the One Year to Go celebrations in Canada.
The royal couple spent time at the kickoff Winter Training Camp with athletes who will participate in the upcoming Games.
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The royal couple spent time at the kickoff Winter Training Camp with athletes who will participate in the upcoming Games.
The international competition has been hosted in six cities since its inception in London in 2014.
Following the inaugural Games, the event moved to Orlando, Florida in 2016 and Toronto, Canada in 2017.
Sydney, Australia hosted the Games in 2018, followed by The Hague in the Netherlands, which was delayed until 2022 due to the COVID pandemic.
The most recent Games were held in Dusseldorf, Germany in 2023.
Speaking to PEOPLE, outgoing CEO Reid praised Prince Harry’s dedication to the cause: “He’s an incredibly committed and passionate, and intelligent advocate for what we do. He’s been a fantastic support and a really superb person to work with over the last 10 years.”