The Jockey Club announced in February that Charlotte Clement de Bona would assume the position of chief strategy and transformation officer, a newly created role at the organization.

At the time of announcement, The Jockey Club chair, Everett Dobson, said, “Charlotte’s role is an important step as the industry continues to seek growth and modernization opportunities. Charlotte’s track record of delivering meaningful transformations, particularly in dynamic and complex environments, in addition to her unparalleled knowledge of racing, makes her uniquely suited to help guide The Jockey Club through this next chapter.”  

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With a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, Clement de Bona’s previous work experience included four-plus years at McKinsey & Co. where she advised senior leadership teams while focusing on strategy and operational performance. She also held senior roles in high-growth startups and private equity-backed portfolio companies.

In addition to her business acumen, Clement de Bona brings knowledge of the Thoroughbred industry to her position as the daughter of the late trainer Christophe Clement, a respected and highly decorated horseman who will be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame Aug. 7 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Clement de Bona’s answers have been edited for clarity and space.

BloodHorse: What does your role at The Jockey Club entail?

Clement de Bona: Taking the lead on large strategic initiatives that cut across TJC’s businesses and the industry. For example, modernizing The Jockey Club by focusing on products and services and technology to serve our customers. Those customers are people who are in the sport today and the people who we need to grow the sport in the future.

BloodHorse: What do you hope to bring from your past experiences to The Jockey Club?

Clement de Bona: I hope to bring McKinsey’s rigor and analysis, startup innovation, and scrappiness in launching new business lines, and my passion for racing through my family’s racing background. There’s a lot to do, but I’m very excited to be part of the team.

BloodHorse: What motivated you to accept a job with The Jockey Club?

Clement de Bona: Bluntly, I actually never thought that I’d have a formal role in horse racing. Obviously, through the Clement Stable and it being a family business, I have always been passionate and involved in horse racing, but never thought that I’d formally work in it.

I love the sport, I love the game, I love everything about it. I just think that it really is at a point where there has to be change, and there will be change. I think the biggest driver [for me taking the job], honestly, is Everett [Dobson].

When he was appointed chair [in 2025], I was really hopeful and felt like that was a great sign for The Jockey Club, and I wanted to be part of it. Then I spent more time with [president and chief operating officer] Jim Gagliano and the team, learning more about the opportunity, and was energized by it.

BloodHorse: Among Everett’s achievements outside of racing is his background in wireless and cellular networks — which led to him selling that concern to AT&T. Is that story inspiring to you?

Clement de Bona: I’m a transformation nerd, so that definitely is. I think it’s fascinating to see how companies can successfully change, and [those that] struggle to change. At the end of the day, it comes down to people. I’ve seen successful transformations and unsuccessful transformations, and the secret sauce is really the people that drive those transformations, and for me, one of the stories that really resonated with me early in my career is when Everett shared with me how he went through a transformation himself with his business outside of horse racing.

BloodHorse: Clement Stable has always been a family affair. Your brother, Miguel, assisted your father and now has taken the helm. Your mother, Valerie, and yourself are the stable’s biggest cheerleaders. What was it like to grow up in that atmosphere and how has your father’s absence affected the dynamic?

Clement de Bona: For Miguel and me, racing has always been a beautiful part of our lives.

Christophe Clement (Eclipse Sportswire)

My dad would always say my mom was the brains behind the operation. She did and does a lot for Clement Stable. We’re lucky to have her support. She also does a lot for my son, her grandson. I’m incredibly grateful for that.

My dad asked my mom to keep the family strong and to make sure that we still did what we had done [when he was alive], which is Sunday night dinners and to speak to each other often, and spend as much time as we can together, even though we all have hectic, busy schedules. My mom’s done an incredible job of continuing all these traditions.

BloodHorse: What kind of relationship do you have with Miguel?

Clement de Bona: We’re incredibly close. I’m very grateful for my brother. We are incredibly competitive with each other, but also extraordinarily supportive. I’m very proud of him and everything he’s done, always, but especially in this last year. He’s really been a strength in our family. I’m lucky to be his sister.

BloodHorse: Tell me about the initiative outside of racing that you’re passionate about?

Clement de Bona: When dad got diagnosed — he had uveal melanoma, which is cancer of the eye — it was a brutal but also beautiful six months where I was dad’s caregiver. During that same time, I started a uveal melanoma consortium, the Melanoma Research Alliance.

We got eight clinics to join this task force and share data on dad’s rare cancer with about 35 other patients, patient advocates, etc., and it still exists today. We’ve opened, I think it’s four clinical trials, and raised $20 million. The goal is $50 million in the next five years.