Prince Harry has appointed a TV executive as the new CEO of his first winter Invictus Games and will head to Canada with Meghan Markle next week.
Scott Moore replaces the Duke of Sussex’s friend and former aide Nick Booth, who took over on a temporary basis last year amid chaos at the top when two bosses were abruptly sacked in the autumn.
Moore’s appointment came as Harry embarked on an 11,000-mile tour to Britain to visit his father for 45 minutes after he was diagnosed with cancer.
The Duke of Sussex has not seen his estranged brother Prince William and is already back in Montecito with his wife and children before the couple heads to Vancouver and Whistler next week for the Invictus ‘one year to go’ celebrations on Valentine’s Day. Canada is where Harry and Meghan fell in love while filming Suits in Toronto.
Invictus 2025’s new CEO, Scott Moore, has a reputation for doing major sports TV deals and overseeing coverage of numerous Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, while boss at CBC, the Canadian public broadcaster.
Experts have said his appointment is a big indication that Harry and Meghan will use their star power and his connections to land a major broadcast deal for Invictus 2025, which will feature winter sports for the first time – likely with Netflix first. refusal.
Invictus Düsseldorf had its ceremonies and sports streamed via its website last September. The BBC also showed events via the Red Button and iPlayer, but this was not widely shown on German TV.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline: ‘Harry’s latest move in hiring Scott Moore shows he is one step closer to launching the Games with a major TV deal.
Prince Harry has appointed a TV executive with 40 years of experience, Scott Moore, the new CEO of the Invictus Games in 2025. Experts say Mr Moore is a dealmaker who has managed coverage of the Olympics and the World Cup.
The couple clearly enjoyed being back in Canada for an NHL game in December. It is the country where Meghan worked as an actress and they fell in love. They’re going back next week
‘We have seen in recent times how Amazon, Netflix and now Disney have secured the rights to major sporting event TV and they know there is money and also subscriptions up for grabs with the right sports.
‘Now that the Invictus Games has expanded to host a winter event, it is starting to overshadow both the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games and could become a major televised event with the likes of Scott behind it.
‘Harry and Meghan have the star power to helm the games and as we know this is Harry’s sweet spot and something he is clearly passionate about. The documentary he made for Netflix wasn’t the hit they were hoping for, but it did what was necessary to inform and educate people about the games, their purpose and also their importance.’
But if Harry pushes for a more global audience and broader coverage in North America, Netflix will be at the front of the queue, while Disney is also expected to make a bid and the couple will hope the new CEO’s influence could help them help after their Invictus documentary was released. considered a flop.
Moore’s appointment came after CEO Peter Lawless and Chief Commercial Office Bill Cooper abruptly left in the fall.
Insiders told MailOnline that they had both been fired ‘without reason’ and warned that while Scott is a ‘star hire’, there are concerns over the management of the Games with just 12 months to go.
An insider told MailOnline: ‘Scott has a lot of experience. In my mind the only clouds on the horizon are how late they are in cleaning up the unrest they needlessly caused, and how little local representation they have in senior leadership, but I think that’s intentional on Nick’s part. ‘
Nick Booth, described as Harry’s former ‘right-hand man’, acted as interim CEO. Mr Booth, who also heads a Canadian national charity called the True Patriot Love Foundation, led the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry between 2010 and 2017. He also helped Harry’s founding of the Invictus Games for wounded veterans. Harry and William’s Foundation fell apart after he married Meghan Markle.
Starting Monday, ‘One Year to Go’ events will be held for Invictus Games 2025.
There will be sporting and cultural events taking place in central Whistler this week. Harry and Meghan fly on February 14.
New CEO Scott Moore said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.
“I look at this opportunity through the lens of a mission, and I simply couldn’t think of a more important mission than this.
“I am impressed with the existing team and I look forward to jumping in and working together to deliver world-class Games.”
The Duke of Sussex with Nick Booth as he headed The Royal Foundation with Harry and William, a former royal aide to him and his brother. Mr. Booth led Invictus 2025 in Vancouver-Whistler for a few months after the last CEO abruptly left
The last CEO Peter Lawless (pictured with Justin Trudeau) left abruptly. Insiders claim he has been fired. Invictus says he has ‘transitioned’ and will be an ambassador
MailOnline revealed in December how one of Prince Harry’s most trusted British aides, who also served the Prince and Princess of Wales for many years, had taken over the reins of the next Invictus Games in Canada amid the unrest at the event.
Nick Booth stepped into the top job after two senior executives, CEO Peter Lawless and Commercial Office Chief Bill Cooper, abruptly left in the fall.
Executives at the top of Invictus Vancouver were never told why they were being fired and believed they were performing well, another insider claimed.
Bill Cooper, who served as Chief Commercial Officer for 10 months until leaving in October
‘There is less than a year to go. Senior employees have been fired without reason and until now had an interim CEO. Invictus will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2024 and has done great things for wounded veterans. “Harry and the Foundation need to get a grip to ensure his legacy is not tarnished,” the source said.
Bill Cooper and Peter Lawless have both declined to comment on their departures.
An insider said: ‘The elimination of their positions as part of a reshuffle came as a surprise and disappointment as they had been working on the project since the bid and their areas of responsibility were in good health at the time of dismissal. ‘.
A source said Nick Booth, a former royal aide to William and Harry, was instrumental in the change at the top and continues to drive change.
‘I don’t think the decision was made by Harry. I think this was driven primarily by the True Patriot Love Foundation, which chairs the local board of directors set up to organize the 2025 Games. They are the domestic controlling party for this particular series of Games and such decisions would be guided by them,” they said.
“Nick Booth is in charge and they were given no reason for dismissal. It can only be logical that True Patriot Love wants more control – they clearly want a very hands-on involvement, despite having a local organizing committee.”
Last year, another whistleblower said morale among Vancouver-Whistler staff was now “at an all-time low.” He said: ‘Nick worked at the Royal Foundation before moving to Canada. Harry trusts him implicitly, but the changes are causing unrest among the staff, especially after two such beloved bosses left.”
Mr Booth, who also heads a Canadian national charity called the True Patriot Love Foundation, led the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry between 2010 and 2017. He also helped Harry’s founding of the Invictus Games for wounded veterans.
The Royal Foundation, founded by Harry and William, was originally opened by the brothers in 2009, with Kate joining when she became Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and Meghan becoming the Duchess of Sussex in May 2018.