Martyn Henderson OBE
Chief Executive
Martyn has been the Chief Executive Officer for the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) since August 2018.
Over the past decade, Martyn has led a number of projects, programmes and campaigns within the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport. Most recently, he was Director for the Events Research Programme, which pioneered the safe opening of mass cultural and sporting events in a structured, scientific and ethically robust manner. Martyn received an OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List for services to sports safety during COVID-19.
Martyn is also Chair of the Premier League Stadium Fund’s Stadia Improvement Panel, which awards capital grants to clubs throughout the football pyramid.
Prior to joining the SGSA, Martyn was Project Director for the Great Exhibition of the North – a celebration of art, culture and innovation of the North of England held in 2018 – and the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, which is funding projects in Bradford, Blackpool and the Lake District.
During this period, Martyn also led the UK City of Culture programme, supporting Hull 2017 and running the competition which saw Coventry appointed as UK City of Culture for 2021. He now serves as a member of the Government’s expert advisory panel for UK City of Culture 2025.
Martyn is a Bolton Wanderers fan and worked on the turnstiles at the Reebok (now University of Bolton) Stadium for two seasons. He also represented the club on ITV’s Premiership on Monday throughout the 2000/01 season.
Contact details
Email: martyn.henderson@sgsa.org.uk