Markus Haggeney, 59, has been appointed Acting Secretary General of the FAI, following Susanne Schödel's departure as Secretary General. He is taking on his new role as of today.

FAI President Bob Henderson said: “Susanne Schödel has led the work of the FAI Head Office for almost six years and done her utmost to deliver outcomes that benefit the whole organisation. I wish her the very best for the future.

“I am grateful to Markus Haggeney for agreeing to take on this new challenge of Acting Secretary General, and I look forward to working with him in his new position. He has been working for FAI for almost six years and is up to speed with all the on-going projects and activities of the Federation.”

Mr Haggeney’s involvement in FAI dates back to some years ago. Before being employed at the FAI Office he did extensive volunteer work for the CASI (FAI Air Sport General Commission), the CIA (FAI Ballooning Commission) and the German Ballooning Federation. An enthusiastic balloon and paragliding pilot, he also worked for many years in companies active in the field of aviation, and successfully participated in the organisation of several FAI-sanctioned ballooning events, in particular the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett.