(ATR) Olivier Gers is aiming to "re-establish trust" in the global track and field body battered by the Russian doping scandal.
The 46-year-old joins the IAAF after a six-month search, which followed the scandal surrounding former president Lamine Diack and WADA’s investigations revealing state-sponsored doping in Russia. The IAAF banned the Russian athletics team from the Rio Games in June.
"The IAAF is at a challenging and exciting junction. It is a multi-million dollar business that needs to stay relevant, build its fan base and re-establish trust," said Gers.
Gers from France brings more than 20 years of commercial, marketing and media experience to the position. He spent 15 years in the U.S., which included a role as global head of IMG Digital Media in New York, before heading to the U.K. in 2010 as CEO of Endemol Worldwide Brands.
"Bringing the global athletes and their fans closer together through technology is the ultimate goal to driving the business of athletics forward and I believe my commercial, marketing and digital experience will help to achieve this," he said in a statement.
Commenting on the appointment, IAAF president Sebastian Coe said: "The IAAF is on a mission to change. We looked for a CEO with the energy, passion and experience to lead the organisation and, together with the Council and the Congress, drive the sport to be the best that it can be.
"Olivier’s experience in leading global teams, working with world-class brands and businesses and developing and creating digital products and platforms is exactly what we need."
Gers is at the Rio Olympics this week and will attend the IAAF Council meeting on Aug. 20. He will take up the position of chief executive on Oct. 1.
Coe also paid tribute to Jean Gracia, who has been the IAAF’s general secretary on a temporary basis since the start of the year. "He has been instrumental in stabilising and restructuring the organisation and keeping the focus on delivering four world championships this year in Portland, Cardiff, Rome and Bydgoszcz," Coe said.
Gracia will remain at the IAAF to help with the transition and support Gers in his new role.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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