Baku 2015 European Games announce leadership update

Baku 2015 European Games announce leadership update

After leading the delivery of a positive update at the recent Third European Olympic Committees

(EOC) Coordination Commission, it has today been announced Chief Operating Officer of the Baku

2015 European Games, Jim Scherr, has taken the decision to leave his position and return to the

United States.

Scherr led the organisation for 12 months, during which time he put in place the planning and

organisational structures required to deliver an innovative and athlete focused inaugural

European Games.

Jim Scherr said: "I’m in no doubt that I leave the organisation in a fantastic position to deliver a

successful European Games in Baku next summer. After another positive update at the recent

Coordination Commission, I feel it is the right time to return to the United States to spend more

time with my young family and resume my position as Chief Executive of 776 Marketing, the

consulting, events and marketing company I founded.

"I wish to thank First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Minister of Youth and Sport,

Azad Rahimov for their support during my time in Baku and am sure they, along with the

extremely talented and professional team we have put in place, will deliver an event that

Azerbaijan and the rest of Europe will be proud of."

Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees, said: "We are all incredibly

grateful for Jim’s leadership during his time as Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 European

Games. His endeavour has put the Games in a position to meet the EOC’s vision to create an

innovative and athlete focused Games built on a sustainable model. We wish him the best of luck

for the future."

Minister Azad Rahimov, CEO of Baku 2015 Operating Committee, Minister of Youth and Sport for

Azerbaijan, said: "I want to thank Jim for the expertise, passion and leadership he has shown

during his time in Baku. With his guidance, we have made great progress and he has played an

integral role in helping to shape the First European Games. We now look forward to the next stage

of our preparations as we look to put on a spectacular inaugural European Games next year."

The largest multi-sport event in the history of Azerbaijan will involve more than 6,000 European

athletes competing across 19 sports.

Baku is investing in 20 major new and refurbished competition venues, providing iconic locations

and world-class facilities for the athletes of Europe and young people in Azerbaijan, and a new

world class sporting centre for the NOCs and athletes of Europe and beyond for decades to come.

Baku 2015 European Games has appointed a successor to Jim Scherr and this will be formally

announced at 1230 (Local time) on 28th April 2014.