On the occasion of its Meeting on Wednesday 8 October in Geneva, the FIM Board of Directors appointed Mr Ignacio Verneda as the FIM Chief Executive Officer.
Ignacio Verneda has been involved with motorcycling throughout his life, starting at a young age as a volunteer and later on a professional basis. At the age of 16 and together with a group of friends he founded the Moto Club Cingles de Berti. Over the next 15 years, as a volunteer, he served as a member of the Moto Club governing council, then as Treasurer and Vice president. The club also ran training courses for young riders. Ignacio was then responsible for sporting events, communication and commercial matters. He played a leading role in the organisation of a large number of motorcycle events at regional level as well as at Spanish, European and International Championships.
From 1985 to 1988, Ignacio continued his volunteer work within the Real Federacion Motociclista Española (RFME) alongside his professional activities. As Director of the national trial Team he was responsible for sporting, commercial and logistical aspects. He was also jury president for events counting for the Spanish championship and RFME delegate in the FIM International Jury for events counting towards the Trial & Road Racing Grand Prix European and World Championships. During this period, he was also Vice President of the Federacio Catalana de Motociclisme.
In 1988, the RFME formalised Ignacio’s position on a professional basis. Over the next 18 years he held a number of key roles, becoming the RFME’s very first Sporting Director, responsible for all disciplines, and the first ever Technical Director in the history of the federation. Ignacio continued to do volunteer work, serving as member of the FIM Trial & Enduro Commission and then President of the FIM Trial Commission.
In 2006, he joined the FIM as Sports Director, and was promoted to Executive Director Sports in 2010. In this capacity, Ignacio had oversight the Sports Commissions as well as the International Medical and Technical Commissions. He was also the FIM representative in the Grand Prix, Superbike and Speedway Grand Prix Commissions.
The FIM President Vito Ippolito said of this appointment: “We have carried out a global recruitment process including an approach to our Federations. The role of Ignacio within the FIM Interim Collegial Body over the past ten months has reinforced his competences to take up this challenge. I am very satisfied with this decision which will bolster the stability of the Federation. I wish him every success in this new stage of his career.”
“I would like to thank the FIM President and the Board of Directors for their confidence”, said the new FIM CEO, Ignacio Verneda. “Becoming CEO is an honour and I am looking to everyone for support. The Federations and the volunteers are essential to the FIM and I would like to offer them the best service through the FIM Administration.”