The Indian Olympic Association has announced the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as its Chief Executive Officer, addressing a long-standing vacancy. The appointment was made public through a press release on Friday. The necessity of having a CEO was highlighted by International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach during his visit to Mumbai for the IOC Session a couple of months ago.
In a statement, IOA president PT Usha expressed confidence in Mr. Raghuram Iyer, citing his unique combination of leadership, strategic vision, and deep understanding of the sports landscape. Usha sees this appointment as a significant stride towards the continued growth and success of Indian sports on the global stage.
As per the new Constitution drafted by a Supreme Court-constituted panel and approved by the IOC, the IOA was to appoint a CEO who would perform the functions of the erstwhile secretary general, within a month after taking charge of the new executive council led by PT Usha on December 10, 2022.The IOA had received flak from the International Olympic Council (IOC) for not filling up the crucial post for nearly one year.
IOA joint secretary and All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey had been discharging the functions of the CEO. The CEO will be an ex-officio member of the Executive Council without voting rights.