The former CEO of Prince Harry’s Invictus has spoken out after his shock resignation from the non-profit days after the Duke of Sussex received the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY Awards.
Prince Harry’s publishers are reportedly having trouble releasing the paperback edition of the Duke of Sussex’s memoir Spare. It comes after the Sussexes’ publishers were alleged to be begging the prince to release more “sensational” new material. SkyNews.com.au digital correspondent Riley Sullivan joined Sky News digital presenter Gabriella Power to discuss the latest news from the Royal Family.
Dominic Reid, OBE, The Duke of Sussex helped set up the first Invictus Games in 2014 and has been in charge of the charity as Chief Executive for almost a decade.
The Games have evolved into a major international sporting event on the lines of the Olympics for wounded veterans around the world, with the first winter edition of the Games scheduled to be held in Canada in 2025.
However, Mr. Reid announced his resignation on Friday, just days after Harry accepts the Pat Tillman Service Award – named in memory of the late NFL player and US Army officer Pat Tillman – at the dazzling ESPY Awards..
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Dominic Reid, OBE, CEO of Invictus Games, announced his departure from the NGO on Friday. Photo: Invictus.
Harry was awarded the prize for his efforts in saving Invictus, but the decision sparked outrage, including from Tillman’s mother, who said there were more deserving recipients.
“I am shocked why such a controversial and divisive individual was chosen to receive the award,” Ms Tillman told the Daily Mail last week.
Mr Reid, a former soldier, has broken his silence since leaving Invictus in a new interview with Forces News where he praised the achievements of Invictus and Harry.
“There is no doubt that it is the community that is built,” he said.
Harry receives the Pat Tillman Award for Invictus. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P.
“It’s a fantastic gated community and it’s growing by 40 per cent a year, which is huge, and internationally it’s grown to include friends and families and that’s a really important part as well.
“Community is what we have achieved. It has had a therapeutic effect.”
The long-serving CEO described the organisation as a “great place” but insisted it now needed a “fresh look” for the next phase of the Invictus Games.
The first winter edition of the Invictus will be held next year. Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images.
“I think it now takes energy and a new outlook to take it and take it to the next level. I think this is a good time for all of us,” he said.
The update comes after Harry wrote a moving tribute to his outgoing chief executive and praised Mr Reid’s dedication to Invictus.
“I am deeply grateful to my friend Dominic, whose dedication and leadership have helped transform the Invictus Games from an ambitious idea into an internationally recognised movement,” the Duke of Sussex said in a statement.
