On behalf of the ITU Executive Board and Regional Representatives we would like
to thank all those talented people who put their application in for one of the
ITU Leadership positions that were advertised on www.triathlon.org in late December.
We recognised that many people were away from their computers over the festive
season, so we honoured applications until 15 December. We had 68 applications
for the 12 positions, and without exception all were well qualified and experienced.
The Selection Commission recommended the following appointments, which the ITU
Executive Board and Regional Representatives approved:
- Loreen Barnett, ITU Executive Director: Loreen has been
acting in this position since the founding of ITU and has demonstrated the
skills and ability to build and lead the team.
- Leslie Buchanan, ITU Technical Director: Leslie has competently carried
out the requirements of this position and will now assume further duties in
the area of managing matters related to Doping Control, in collaboration with
the ITU Medical Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
- Adrienne Proseilo, ITU Financial Manager: Adrienne was the most experienced and knowledgeable applicant for the position. She has co-owned 2 successful businesses and has the knowledge of our sport to fulfill this position
- Sheila O’Kelly, Head of ITU Events : Sheila has been the “de facto” head of ITU Events since 2001 when she produced the most successful world championships that we have ever had. She continued to show leadership with the ITU World Cup and World Championships on a voluntary basis for the past 4 years. We are very honoured that Sheila has accepted this position with ITU.
- Ed Rice will take on the task of heading up ITU Media and
Television division. During the past 3 years Ed has managed the evolution
of ITU’s website, www.triathlon.org into the world’s largest and best multi-sport
online resource, including the live event coverage from World Cup and World
Championship events. He has also managed the distribution side of ITU’s television
show and was key to establishing ITU online video channel, www.ITUtv.com .
- Brian Mahony will join Ed on the ITU Media and Television
team by taking on the role of Head of ITU of Online Services. Brian has spear-headed
the re-construction of the new www.triathlon.org, which which you are now
using and also led to the evolution of the online live event coverage.
- Pat Bell will continue as the Lead Camera Operator of ITU
Television, and will also take on the full responsibilities as Director of
Onsite Television both for the ITU Host Broadcast crew and when events have
their own Host Broadcaster. Pat will also be involved in the early stages
of post-production.
- Barrie Shepley will become the onsite television producer and colour commentator. Barrie has been part of the post-production team for the past 3 years and will take on added responsibilities with field production. He will also work with others, such as Jackie Fairweather and members of the ITU Coaching Commission to provide the live online event coverage and specialty videos such as coaching and training segments for ITUtv.com.
- Gergely Markus will head up the new Sport Development division
of ITU. Gergely is also the current Secretary General of the European Triathlon
Union and was the Competition Manager, Athens Olympic Games Triathlon. Gergely
brings a wealth of sport leadership talent and experience with him from managing
community multi-sport clubs to elite performance athlete. The current World
Cup Champion, Dimitri Gaag, trains and races out of the TVK Club in Tiszaujvaros,
Hungary, which was founded by Gergely and his father Gabor. The European Triathlon
Union and ITU will combine resources to establish an administration office
in Europe. Gergely will have 3 Sport Development Officers on his team:
- Enrique Quesada , who will primarily manage Sport Development
in Latin America, in collaboration with Antonio Alvarez, President of the
PanAmerican Triathlon Confederation (PATCO) and Carlos Froes, ITU Regional
Representative for the Americas. Enrique will also team up with other coaches
and Sport Development officers with a focus on eastern Europe and Africa.
He will also continue as the ITU Ranking Manager responsible for the ITU World
Ranking as well as the 5 Regional Rankings.
- Kristine Chambers is putting her PhD in kinesiology and
coaching science on hold and will take on the challenge of Sport Development,
with a primary focus on the English-speaking countries of the Americas and
Africa, as well as being the Sport Development liaison to the ITU Coaches
Commission. Kristine has been the Director of Youth Development for Triathlon
Canada and was instrumental in the production of the “ITU Kid’s Training
Video.”
- Brett Mace of Australia will take on the Sport Development
challenges in Asia and Oceania. Brett will take a leave from his position
as the head of the Triathlon Academy that he and Rami Ramachandran, President
of the Indian Triathlon Federation have established at Chennai. Brett’s strong
coaching background within the Australian high-performance area as well as
his work to establish both grassroots and elite programmes in India will be
a great asset to
The Sport Development Team will work in close collaboration with the ITU Executive Board, and particularly the 5 ITU Regional Representatives to achieve the Sport Development goals and objectives outlined in the ITU Strategic Plan.