Dressage-News

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 5–Alex McLin has resigned as secretary general and chief executive officer of the International Equestrian Federation and is being replaced by Ingmar De Vos of Belgium, who also headed up the recently formed European Equestrian Federation.

The Duke University.-educated lawyer who was brought up in Switzerland and the U.S. but had no experience in horse sports when he was appointed by FEI President Princess Haya three years ago, turned in his resignation last Friday.

The princess praised him for bringing new professionalism to the FEI of 135 national federations and is the governing body of international hose sports. Princess Haya was elected last November to a second and final four-year term.

“I am truly indebted to Alex for his hard work and dedication over the last three years,” she said. “He brought the FEI into the modern era and made it much more professional. I will miss his sound counsel, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

In his resignation letter, he said: “I have enjoyed being an agent of change within an organization that we together sought to modernize and take to a new level. I have also enjoyed tackling the complex issues facing the FEI and attempting to find ways to improve its approach, its service to the sport and its stakeholders.”

Ingmar De Vos, 47, the new secretary general and CEO, is the current secretary general of the Belgian Equestrian Federation and the European Equestrian Federation. He has broad experience organizing international jumping competitions and was chef de mission for the Belgian equestrian team at all recent World Championships and Olympic Games.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Ingmar’s caliber join the FEI team,” Princess Haya said. “I look forward to working with him as we continue to unify, strengthen and modernize our federation. He understands the needs of national federations better than anyone. I know he will push all of us, including me, to do a better job of meeting those needs.”

Ingmar said: “The FEI has been through a period of profound change. It is a much better organization than it was four years ago. As Princess Haya said during her re-election campaign, we now have an opportunity to use this period of calm to build on our progress in a more deliberate manner. I am honored to have a chance to be part of that process.”

He holds degrees in political science, business administration and international law and is fluent in Dutch, English and French. He previously served in the Belgian Army and as an advisor to the Belgian Senate.