FIH appoints Jason McCracken, former Olympic and World Cup umpire, as new CEO

Lausanne: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed New Zealand’s Jason McCracken as its chief executive officer (CEO). He will take over on February 2017 following confirmation of his appointment on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_3072230” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Getty Images[/caption] McCracken will be leaving his role as head of insurance and investment risk at banking group ANZ to take up his new post at FIH’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. He will replace Kelly Fairweather, who is leaving for the International Tennis Federation after six years in the role. McCracken is well known to the hockey family having served as an Olympic and World Cup umpire, FIH committee member and technical official for over 20 years. His most recent appointments were technical delegate at the Rio 2016 Olympics and tournament director at the 2014 men’s hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands. He has also served as a board member for Hockey New Zealand and has played an important role in the development of hockey, especially umpiring, both in his homeland and internationally. Having held executive roles across global banking, insurance and financial organisations in New Zealand, Australia and India, his business experience and vast hockey knowledge proved crucial in the recruitment process. The appointment was made following an extensive global search over several months with FIH president Leandro Negre agreeing on Fairweather’s replacement earlier in October. Speaking of his appointment, Negre said: “On behalf of the executive board, we are delighted to confirm Jason’s appointment. With his incredible hockey knowledge, from grassroots to elite level, combined with his extensive commercial background as a CEO and an executive general manager, it was clear he was the stand-out choice.” McCracken will arrive following the election of the new FIH president, which will take place on 12 November during the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai.