ITTF Fills Two Senior Positions

(ATR) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) makes Steve Dainton the permanent CEO and names Raul Calin as the federation’s first Secretary General.

Dainton, 39, had been the acting CEO for the past two months after receiving a promotion from Marketing Director. The native of Australia has been with the ITTF since 2002.

"It’s the right time for the ITTF to realize its true commercial potential and modernize itself to ensure that table tennis cements itself as one of the leading sports globally at all levels," Dainton said in a statement.

"I am looking forward to helping to ensure this and to especially assist in growing the table tennis industry to new levels, meaning not only more people playing table tennis, but also more people actively engaged."

Calin, who is 45 and a native of Spain, had been serving as the ITTF Director of Operations. As Secretary General, he will be assisting Dainton. Calin will remain based in Lausanne to focus on ensuring ITTF’s positive Olympic relations, according to the federation. Calin has been with the ITTF since 2004.

"Both Steve and Raul have both been extremely loyal to the ITTF over their many years of service, and have been instrumental to the growth of the ITTF over recent years," ITTF President Thomas Weikert said in a statement.

"The ITTF Executive Committee and I have complete trust in both of them to excel in their new positions and guide the ITTF to a new fruitful era."

Following his election as ITTF president in June, Weikert appointed Khalil Al-Mohannadi as Deputy President and also announced that Petra Sorling would continue her role as Vice-President of Finance.

Written by Gerard Farek

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