The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has released an official statement regarding the replacement for its Deputy President for Sport, following the recent resignation of Robert Reid.
The FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has officially nominated Malcolm Wilson OBE for the position of Deputy President for Sport. Wilson’s nomination will be put to a vote by the FIA member organizations at the Extraordinary General Assemblies and Conference scheduled to take place in Macau this June.
Malcolm Wilson brings a wealth of experience to the potential role, having had a distinguished career in global motorsport spanning over four decades. He has competed at the highest levels as both a rally driver, winning the British Rally Championship in 1994, and as the managing director of M-Sport, which has successfully run Ford’s World Rally Championship program since 1997. In 2009, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to motorsport.
In the official FIA statement, Mohammed Ben Sulayem commented on the nomination, stating that Wilson’s extensive experience will be “invaluable to the FIA and our member clubs as we continue to grow grassroots and professional motorsport, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers and teams.”
Wilson himself expressed his honor at the nomination, stating his eagerness to support the President and the FIA in its mission. He acknowledged the exciting time for motorsport and his anticipation to contribute to bringing the sport to new audiences and ensuring the delivery of top-tier championships for all competitors.
This nomination comes after Robert Reid’s resignation earlier in April, where he cited a “fundamental breakdown in governance standards” within the FIA as the reason for his departure. Reid, who was appointed alongside Mohammed Ben Sulayem in 2021, expressed concerns about transparency and decision-making processes within the organization. His departure followed other high-profile exits from the FIA in recent times, adding to scrutiny of the leadership.
The confirmation of Malcolm Wilson’s appointment is contingent on the vote by FIA members in June. If approved, he will take on a significant role in developing global motorsport policies and promoting safety within thesport.
