Jerome Pels resigns

ISAF's long term CEO moves on

After more than 17 years with ISAF, CEO Jerome Pels has decided to pursue other professional challenges.

ISAF President Carlo Croce writes: "ISAF and Jerome have enjoyed a very fruitful relationship. Jerome has had the foresight and leadership to steer ISAF through the many challenges he has encountered during his long service at ISAF. His steady hand on the helm will be missed by the President, the members of the Executive Committee, his colleagues in the ISAF Secretariat and in the greater worldwide sailing community.

Managing a complex organisation like ISAF is not an easy task at the best of times. With 142 member national organizations; more than 100 ISAF classes; a very professional and dedicated cadre of International Race Officials, ISAF is unique amongst international sports federations and undoubtedly needs the skill demonstrated by Jerome to be efficiently managed. In this task Jerome has always counted on the invaluable support of his colleagues in the ISAF Secretariat.

Pels stated: "After 17 years I believe I have accomplished most of which an individual can accomplish at any organization. I started in 1997 and leave having been for the last 6 years the highest ranking executive of ISAF. I have made countless friends, visited more places than I could ever have imagined and faced numerous challenges most of which I am pleased to say I was able to overcome. I leave behind a healthy organization and a great staff whom I will dearly miss. I am certain they will continue the outstanding performance which I have always counted on. I wish to thank in particular, my colleagues in the ISAF Secretariat, the Executive Committee who placed their confidence in me, and everyone whom I've been privileged to meet and deal with over the last 17 years. It is time for me to seek new professional challenges."

The questions are - who will take over and is Pels going join his brother-in-law, one Sir Ben Ainslie, in some capacity?