At an Extraordinary Bureau Meeting, held in Aachen, at the FEI World Equestrian Games today, Michael Stone (IRL), 49, Acting FEI Secretary General since 12 May, was approved and appointed to become the new Secretary General of the Federation Equestre Internationale.
The appointment was made on the recommendation of the Evaluation Panel, consisting of the FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, Simon Brooks-Ward, and the Chairman of the Judicial Committee Ken Lalo, who interviewed the shortlisted candidates in London on 23 and 24 August.
The appointment is a culmination of an open and transparent process that has involved National Federations and FEI Group Chairmen. It began in June following the departure of Jean Claude Falciola (SUI), the Interim Secretary General.
Michael Stone is to take up the position of FEI Secretary General with immediate effect.
HRH Princess Haya, President of the FEI, stated: “All candidates on the shortlist proved that they had the commitment, knowledge and passion for this challenging post. I would like to thank them for their willingness to be engaged in the process, to give some excellent presentations and to bring to the evaluation panel their proven records of advancing horsesport at a national level.
“In the end there could only be one successful candidate. I am delighted that Michael has agreed to become the Secretary General. He now has the challenge to take the FEI to greater heights and to achieve the aspirations laid down and monitored by the General Assembly and the Bureau.”
Michael Stone said: “I feel honoured to be selected. At a time when the FEI is clearly striving to change its tempo and direction, I am looking forward to the responsibility of leading the FEI Staff and to unify the horsesport community so that we can achieve the agreed roadmap and targets against which I and the FEI will be judged. My goal is to attain the objectives and aims developed by FEI President, Bureau and Headquarters within an agreed timetable.”
Born and raised in Ireland, Michael Stone, 49, is a former International Jumping rider. He also rode Eventing and Dressage at a national level. He was the Secretary General of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland from 1987 to 1997. He was the Team Manager of the Irish Team during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 1994 FEI World Equestrian Games in The Hague. He acted in the same position for the Irish Junior and Young Riders Teams from 1993 through 1996. Before he joined the FEI in 1997 in the position of Development Officer, he was the Management Director of his family’s horse feed business for five years. In 1998, he became FEI Assistant Secretary General and in 2003 he was appointed to the position of FEI Sports Director.
Michael is a keen golfer and plays off a handicap of 16. He also enjoys football, rugby and tennis. Other interests include cinema, cooking and travel.
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