Paris 2024 confirm Etienne Thobois as CEO

By Amelia Fisher-Starzynski, Paris, France, Dec 20, 2017: The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Committee has confirmed the appointment of Etienne Thobois as CEO of the Organising Committee, following an open and transparent recruitment process (Paris 2024 confirm Etienne Thobois).

Thobois played a key role as CEO of the bid, helping Paris to its historic victory as Host City of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A former French badminton champion and Olympic athlete, his previous experience also includes Finance Director of the 2003 IAAF World Championships in Paris, CEO of Rugby World Cup 2007 in France, founder of Keneo sports consultancy, former IOC expert on venues and finance and technical expert for Tokyo 2020.

The appointment comes after a robust recruitment process, which began in November and was overseen by independent firm Odgers Berndtson, who also helped place the CEO for London 2012. A shortlist of four candidates was selected for interview from a pool of 61 applications.

Thobois was chosen by Tony Estanguet following a discussion with members of a Committee that included French IOC Member Guy Drut and representatives from the city, the government, the region Île-de-France, the National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) and National Paralympic Committee (CPSF).

Paris 2024 President, Tony Estanguet, said:

“We are delighted with the appointment of Etienne Thobois to the role of CEO. Etienne stood out amongst a field of very high-calibre applicants. His leadership and experience was crucial to our victory in Lima and will prove invaluable over the next seven years as we work together to build our exciting project for the 2024 Games.”

The appointment comes as Paris 2024 is finalising its plans for the formation of the organising committee (OCOG), due to be launched in January. With the OCOG statutes agreed domestically and sent to the IOC, the appointment of the CEO and establishment of the OCOG governance, the arrival of the Olympic and Paralympic Act in Parliament (20-21 December) and the early work of infrastructure delivery body Solideo, everything is on track to move the project forward to the next phase.

The statutes, approved by Paris 2024 and its stakeholders, confirm:

– A majority of sport movement representatives in the governance structures of the OCOG

– A key role for public authorities despite the fact that the OCOG is a privately funded organisation

– In addition, Paris 2024 will ensure the OCOG maintains the highest standards of ethics and transparency by establishing strict oversight protocols.

Executive pay will be determined by the Compensation Committee, while an Audit Committee and an Ethics Committee will be established to ensure good governance and ethical standards are enforced within the committee.

The Olympic and Paralympic Act, which is currently being discussed in the French National Assembly, also includes a provision that will give the French Court of Auditors oversight over all OCOG accounts.

Paris 2024 President, Tony Estanguet, added:

“In three months we have laid the foundations and designed the framework for 2024. It is on this basis that we can now move forward to develop an ambitious project that benefits the Olympic Movement, the people of France and the entire country.

“The arrival of the Olympic and Paralympic Act in parliament reflects the full mobilisation of the State to ensure we deliver on the commitments made during the bid phase to the IOC.”