Formula 1
FIA makes two leadership appointments
FIA president Ben Sulayem adds two senior figures to boost organisation's leadership team
Jonathan Noble
Published: Oct 9, 2024, 2:34 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
The FIA has announced two senior leadership appointments as part of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s efforts to transform the governing body.
Spaniard Alberto Villarreal is to join as general manager, while Italian Alessandra Malhame will become the FIA’s new Senior HR Director.
Villarreal, who will report directly to Ben Sulayem and the President of the Senate, arrives with a huge experience of the automotive sector following two decades working for the Goodyear tyre company.
He will help oversee the operational and financial performance of the organisation, and has been tasked with prioritising the interests of the FIA members in decision-making.
Malhame, who has previously worked in senior positions at Honeywell and Bristol Myers Squibb, will work with the organisation to guide HR operations and wider strategies.
Speaking about the appointments, Ben Sulayem said: "I am delighted to welcome Alberto and Alessandra to the team.
“With Alberto’s vast leadership experience, I am confident he will drive sustainability in our financial performance, governance and operations and deliver value for our members.
“Alessandra brings a wealth of HR expertise to the federation. I am confident she will ensure the development of our most precious commodity – our people.”
FIA flag
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The senior appointments come at a time when Ben Sulayem is stamping his authority on the FIA in taking it in the direction he wants – which is making it more financially stable and with clearer targets.
Ben Sulayem’s approach has put him at loggerheads with many people, however, and there have been a number of key departures over the past 12 months.
Just last week, the FIA parted ways with its director of communications Luke Skipper and secretary general of mobility Jacob Bangsgaard.
Last winter it was announced that sporting director Steve Nielsen and single-seater technical director Tim Goss had both resigned from their roles, while head of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Deborah Mayer also quit.
This February, it emerged that governance and regulatory director Pierre Ketterer and head of commercial legal affairs Edward Floydd had left, with the FIA’s first CEO Natalie Robyn also leaving in May.
Read Also:
Formula 1Ranking the real 2025 F1 driver line-up pecking order
WRCFIA: EV, hybrid, ICE power on the table for WRC 2027
GeneralAustralia to host 2025 Race of Champions
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Colapinto interview: "I know what I can do, I was expecting to be quick"
Next article Williams to “compromise” next season ahead of 2026 rules overhaul
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news
Autosport Business Exchange New York Examines the Forces Driving Racing’s Next Era of Growth in America
General
Misc General 2 min
Autosport Business Exchange New York Examines the Forces Driving Racing’s Next Era of Growth in America
Dan Ticktum secures Formula E Gen4 berth with newly-acquired Fortescue Zero team
Formula E
FE Formula E 7 min
Dan Ticktum secures Formula E Gen4 berth with newly-acquired Fortescue Zero team
Marc Marquez targeting “as close to 37 points as possible” at Aprilia-friendly Phillip Island
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Marc Marquez targeting “as close to 37 points as possible” at Aprilia-friendly Phillip Island
Porsche's IMSA GTP programme set to end: Could Penske switch to Cadillac?
WEC
WEC WEC
Losail
1 h
Porsche's IMSA GTP programme set to end: Could Penske switch to Cadillac?
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe