14 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

Another FIA exec leaves.

 

 

Natalie Robyn has left her position as chief executive officer of motorsport’s governing body the FIA after just 18 months in the role.

The FIA said in a statement that Robyn had left “by mutual agreement to pursue opportunities outside of the FIA”. 

Robyn, who will leave her role at the end of May, is the fourth senior executive to move on from the FIA since December last year.

Her departure follows the resignations of sporting director Steve Nielsen,single-seater technical director Tim Goss and head of the commission for women Deborah Mayer.

And it comes in the wake of a series of controversies involving FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

 

https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c97z2eev317o

[ANF]

When is the next election?

[TennisUK]

What a careless organisation the FiA has become…

When you consider how incredibly bad almost every FIA president has been, it’s remarkable how the current guy managed to live up to their legacies so successfully.

[jonpollak]

#MiamiOrangeGate.
Obvs

Jp

[SophieB]

There are the reports of his behaviour towards Shaila-Ann Rao last year:

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the embattled president of the FIA, is facing mounting pressure after fresh allegations of sexism and bullying at motorsport’s world governing body.
Telegraph Sport can reveal that Shaila-Ann Rao, the former interim secretary general for motorsport, sent a letter alleging numerous instances of sexist behaviour prior to her abrupt departure last December.
The claims were never investigated.
Telegraph Sport has also spoken to dozens of current and former FIA staff, including elected officials, World Motor Sport Council members and stewards who likewise paint a picture of erratic and bullying behaviour behind the scenes.
The fact that Rao’s allegations were not investigated will be a concern for many.
Rao declined to comment when contacted but Telegraph Sport heard about the letter from multiple sources. It is understood it was sent to Ben Sulayem and to Carmelo Sanz de Barros, the president of the FIA Senate.

https://www.telegrap...shaila-ann-rao/

However, as the BBC article notes, it’s not just female senior executives who have left the FIA unexpectedly and, as the BBC has previously noted, without being willing to expand, on the record, as to why they are going early. It does seem to keep happening, for whatever the reason (or possibly reasons).

[cbo]

However, as the BBC article notes, it’s not just female senior executives who have left the FIA unexpectedly and, as the BBC has previously noted, without being willing to expand, on the record, as to why they are going early. It does seem to keep happening, for whatever the reason (or possibly reasons).

One cannot rule out entirely that some male members of FIA staff do not condone misogeny and bullying and decides to leave even if they are not targeted directly.......

[SophieB]

One cannot rule out entirely that some male members of FIA staff do not condone misogeny and bullying and decides to leave even if they are not targeted directly.......

Possibly, but we just don’t really know why they are all going. Still, doesn’t seem a happy ship. To paraphrase Lady Bracknell, to lose one FIA executive may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose many looks like carelessness.

[FLB]

 

However, as the BBC article notes, it’s not just female senior executives who have left the FIA unexpectedly and, as the BBC has previously noted, without being willing to expand, on the record, as to why they are going early. It does seem to keep happening, for whatever the reason (or possibly reasons).

I can only offer a theory, based on something a friend personally witnessed.

 

The IATA/OACI is here in Montreal. There have been numerous attempts to pry it from Montreal, but every time we (the governments of Canada and Quebec and the city of Montreal) have been successful in convincing the leadership to stay here. The ones of who the most agressive in trying to get it to move were the Qataris, who wanted it for prestige. One of the reasons they used to convice the other members was the tax system here. The Qataris ulitimately failed, but it was damn close:

 

The Postal History of ICAO

 

What kept it from happening (and what my friend saw) is that if Qatar had been successful, there are many of the permanent employees who would have left the organization... and that is leading me to think that the FIA *is* moving from Europe.

Edited by FLB, 09 May 2024 - 10:01.

[Sterzo]

... and that is leading me to think that the FIA *is* moving from Europe.

Which would be consistent with the noises being made about Paris being too expensive, when it's cheaper than London or Switzerland...

[Risil]

Soft power

[Maustinsj]

Possibly, but we just don’t really know why they are all going. Still, doesn’t seem a happy ship. To paraphrase Lady Bracknell, to lose one FIA executive may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose many looks like carelessness.

 

Didn't realise she followed F1...

[SophieB]

Didn't realise she followed F1...

I like to think there’s a clue in her name.

[Risil]

Distant relative of Kenny I think

[Fastcake]

When is the next election?

Not until 2025, presuming Ben Sulayem makes it that long. Usually re-elections for incumbents tend to be quite North Korean in nature, unanimous approval for the one candidate standing, but I have an inkling there’ll be someone taking a look at the state of the FIA and opposing him.

In the sporting federation world, where more leaders lose their position because of corruption convictions than elections, this would be quite notable.

[OvDrone]

What I do see is the Leadership, and that is universal. You cannot hide the fact that the FIA and FOM as well as utterly up a restroom waste based creek with both the likes of MBS and Domenicalli.

No one wants to work with them for more than a year or two. They are corrupt beyond return. Cuddle up to dictators, meddle in results, partake in some old school feudal gender role dynamics in the workplace, play favoritisms with certain brands and teams and now are actively under investigation by the government of the same country the desperately want to suck money out of because of cartel like corruption.

It is obvious that they only care about greed and power and the bubbled up privilege that provides them. Unfortunately, like so, so many in 'Leadership' positions around the world.

MBS is also nuking the WRC and I can see F1 going that route with new points and sprints and the god-awful 2026 rules. F1 is fortunate to be extremely robust to survive that but you can kiss this golden age of popularity goodbye if things do now change at the top.