Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) has announced the appointment of Chris Bell and Simon Johnson as its new chair and chief executive officer respectively.

BISL founder and life president John Brackenbury confirmed the news at the organisation's annual conference, which is being held today (10 November) at Lord's Cricket Ground, London.

Bell is former chief executive of Ladbrokes and will replace David Teasdale from 1 January, with Teasdale taking up the role of vice chair.

Johnson, meanwhile, is former chief operating officer of England's 2018 World Cup bid and joins BISL with immediate effect, replacing interim chief executive officer Dominic Harrison.

Brackenbury said: "This combined level of experience, knowledge and expertise will undoubtedly add to BISL's growing reputation as the authoritative voice in and for Sport and Leisure and help it to rise to the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead."