Craig Anthony appointed British Judo Development Director
September 24, 2026
British Judo are delighted to announce the appointment of Craig Anthony as its new Development Director, bringing almost 20 years of experience across the sports sector to the organisation.
Craig joins British Judo with an extensive background in sports development, leadership and management, having worked across a number of national governing bodies and sporting organisations throughout his career.
He is currently Chief Executive of British Wrestling, where he has overseen significant growth in the number of clubs and associated participation while leading the organisation’s work to promote and develop the sport.
During his tenure, British Wrestling has secured increased investment from UK Sport, Sport England and SportNI, alongside completing a major renovation of the British Wrestling Academy.
Craig also currently serves as a Non-Executive Director for Pentathlon GB, further adding to his extensive experience within the national governing body landscape.
Prior to joining British Wrestling, Craig was Head of Development at British Orienteering, where he oversaw significant growth in participation and commercial income.
His career has also included a role as NGB Development Manager with GreaterSport, working with governing bodies to help deliver participation programmes within local communities.
Across his career, Craig has developed a strong track record in creating and implementing development strategies, leading teams, increasing participation and securing funding to support the growth of sport.
A strong advocate for the positive impact sport can have on individuals and communities, he is passionate about creating inclusive sporting environments and ensuring opportunities to participate in sport are accessible to everyone.
Speaking about his appointment, Craig said:
“Having worked closely with the British Judo team over recent years, I’ve seen firsthand the ambition and passion across the organisation. I am thrilled to join the team and look forward to working with our clubs and partners to drive growth and make judo thriving and accessible for communities nationwide.”
British Judo Chief Executive, Andrew Scoular, added:
“We are delighted to welcome Craig to British Judo. He brings a wealth of experience from across the sports sector, particularly in growing participation, strengthening clubs and creating environments where more people can enjoy and benefit from sport.
“This is an exciting time for British Judo. We have a new strategy ready to launch which will set out our ambitions for the years ahead, and Craig will have an important role to play in turning those ambitions into action.
“His experience, knowledge and passion for making sport accessible to everyone will be a real asset to the organisation, and I’m looking forward to working with him as we begin this next chapter for British Judo.”
Craig will join the team from 16th November, where he will play a key role in shaping and delivering the organisation’s development strategy and supporting the continued growth of judo across the country.
British Judo looks forward to welcoming Craig to the organisation and working with him as we continue to develop opportunities for more people to enjoy and engage with judo.
