Michel Vion Appointed FIS Secretary General

The newly elected FIS Council held its first meeting online on Tuesday, 22nd June. It was the first Council meeting led by newly-elected FIS President Johan Eliasch. The FIS Council unanimously appointed Michel Vion as the new FIS Secretary General.

Vion comes to FIS after serving as the President of the French Ski Association since June 2010. Additionally, he been a member of the FIS Council since 2004. In order to fully focus on his role as FIS Secretary General, Vion will step down in his role as a FIS Council member with immediate effect. He additionally has stepped aside in his role as the President of the FIS French Ski Association.

“Michel brings the perfect combination of leadership skills and expertise of our sport to the role of FIS Secretary General,” said FIS President Johan Eliasch. “FIS is truly fortunate to have an individual of his caliber to come on board and lead the daily operations as we take the next steps into the future of FIS.”

Before joining the French Ski Association Board in 2002, Vion worked as Alpine Director at the French Ski Association from 1992-1999 and as General Sports Director for another two years (from 1999 to 2001). In 2001, he moved to the industry to serve as Competition Director at Ski Dynastar. From 2005-2009, he was Director of Racing at the Rossignol Group that includes brands such as Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Look and Kerma.

“I am very honoured and humbled that the FIS Council had the confidence to appoint me as the new FIS Secretary General.” Said Vion. “It is a very exciting time to take over this role as our president has many innovative, cutting-edge plans to ensure FIS will have a bright future.”

A former world-class ski racer, Vion became World Champion in combined at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Schladming (AUT) in 1982. He also collected three World Cup podiums in his career, including a victory in Wengen (SUI) in 1985 and was a seven-time French champion.

The Council dealt with a full agenda, namely the appointment of several key posts within the Council and the formation of several new Working Groups. A summary of the key decisions follows:

Appointment of Council Representation
The key appointments within the FIS Council approved during the meeting include:

FIS Vice Presidents:
Roman Kumpost, Aki Murasato, Dexter Paine and Peter Schroecksnadel, 

FIS Treasurer:
Mats Arjes

Appointment of Working Groups and Committees
In addition to the above appointments, the renewal of existing committees and working groups were approved, in addition to the formation of several new committees and working groups. The newly-formed committees will need to be ratified at the next FIS Congress.

The existing committees and working groups that were approved are: 
•    Working Group for Honorary Membership
•    FIS Development Programme Working Group
•    FIS representatives FIS Marketing AG

Meanwhile, the newly formed committees and working groups that were approved are:
•    FIS Strategic Planning Group
•    Environment Sustainability Governance Committee
•    Nominations and Remuneration Committee
•    Audit Committee
•    Ethics Commission 
•    China Working Group
•    Nordic Future Vision Working Group
•    Snowboard & Freestyle Future Vision Working Group
•    Alpine Future Vision Working Group
•    Advisory Group

Details about the chairmen, mandates and members of the newly formed committees and working group will be published in detail in the upcoming days. 

The membership of all of the FIS Committee and Sub-Committees were also approved by the Congress and an updated list of all of the members will be posted shortly on the FIS Website. The term for the newly appointed committees is through the 53rd International Ski Congress in June 2022.

Extraordinary Congress Autumn 2021
The FIS Council also approved holding an online extraordinary Congress on 22nd September 2021 in order to address various changes to the FIS Statutes.

Other Business
Chiesa in Valmalenco (ITA) was appointed as the host of the Junior World Ski Championship Freestyle and Snowboard 2022. Leysin (SUI) will host the Park & Pipe events for Snowboard and Freeski in 2022.

The date for the FIS Ski Flying World Championships 2024 in Kulm (AUT) was confirmed. The Championships will be held January 26-28, 2024. With a test event being staged one year earlier on January 28-29.