Two Oceans Marathon NPC to bid Race Director Debra Barnes farewell
9 September 2022
The Two Oceans Marathon NPC announces that Race Director Debra Barnes will be leaving the organisation after she was actively recruited to the position of CEO at an organisation in an allied industry.
Debra was appointed as Race Director in October 2019, after having served as the TOM NPC’s Chief Marketing Officer. She applied her 30 years of extensive expertise in sports event management, commercial partnerships development, sponsorship and marketing to steer the organisation through one of the most difficult periods in its history, including the forced cancellation of the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her tenure ended on a high note after having signed new title sponsor, Totalsports, and hosting a highly successful 51st edition of the Two Oceans Marathon in 2022. It was the first edition to be held over two days, with the objective of enabling the growth of this globally iconic race. Debra also successfully implemented a no-sachet hydration policy to underscore the commitment of the Two Oceans Marathon to preserving the pristine natural surroundings that comprise the race route.
Race Director Debra Barnes says: “Although I am moving on from the organisation, I am not lost to the TOM NPC and remain close in a different capacity. My time at the Two Oceans Marathon NPC while not without difficulty or serious challenges, was a uniquely special time in my career. I will miss interacting with the running community – it is their dedication to the sport that has made the journey as race director singularly meaningful.”
TOM NPC Chairperson, William Swartbooi says: “Debra certainly made an indelible mark during her term at the helm. Debra’s work ethic and commitment is commendable and will be missed. As the first female race director heading up this jewel event of Cape Town, she raised the bar very high indeed during a tumultuous time. Her unwavering focus was improving the runner experience, and it informed all the policy decisions she put forward as well as the stakeholder interactions over which she presided”.
Barnes will officially vacate her post in its current format at the end of September 2022 and will then transition to an oversight role over TOM business for the month of October 2022, after which she will serve the organisation by assisting with various matters on a consultancy basis from time to time.
The TOM NPC wishes Debra every success in her new role.
