Mark Turner took part in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race aboard British Defender, aged 22.
He later founded the company OC Sport, which was sold to France's Télégramme group. It managed Ellen MacArthur's campaigns, including the Vendée Globe and her solo circumnavigation, and created several sporting events, among them the Extreme Sailing Series and the Haute Route cycling events.
He returned to racing by leading the Dongfeng Race Team in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, and later became CEO of The Ocean Race (formerly the Volvo Ocean Race).
