The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed Christophe Troendle as its Director General. The 42-years old Swiss is the successor of the current FIH Executive Director Hans Bertels, who after 13 years officially retires at the end of March. Troendle will start his work at the FIH on 1 May 2008 

Troendle is well known in the international sports world. The Swiss citizen worked for the last five years as Executive Director Commercial & Communications of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). With 20 years experience working for Nestlé in the fast moving consumer goods industry and for football, ice-hockey and equestrian sport in the sport sector, Troendle said he was proud of his achievements recently in the Equestrian World but the opportunity to join Hockey in such a senior position was one he felt he had to grasp.

Troendle: ‘I am delighted to be joining the FIH and my aim is to build on the recent successes and continue the maximization process of the growth potential of Hockey Worldwide’

‘We are very happy with the appointment of Christophe Troendle’, FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman said. ‘We were able to appoint a Director General with an excellent back-ground both in sports and business. I am looking forward to a fruitful cooperation with Christophe Troendle, which will be as good as the cooperation the FIH had with Hans Bertels.’

‘I would like to wish Christophe Troendle all the best on his new challenge’, said FEI Deputy Secretary General Alexander McLin. ‘Christophe has played an instrumental role in the FEI's commercial initiatives and we wish him every success at the FIH.’