County Court Judge John Bowman is the new chairman of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board in Victoria.

Bowman, also a former vice-president of VCAT, will take up the position from the retiring chairman Russell Lewis on August 1.

Lewis was the RAD Board's inaugural chairman in 2004 and will continue to preside over any uncompleted hearings at the time of his retirement in the newly created position of executive member.

He will also make himself available for any new hearing after his retirement.

Racing Victoria chief executive officer Bernard Saundry said Lewis had made a significant contribution to the RAD Board while Bowman had held a lifelong passion for thoroughbred racing as a racehorse owner.