PrintHenk Rottinghuis is undertaking a 100-day “listening program” at the outset of his candidacy for the position of President of the Fédération Equestre Internationale according to the Dutch Equestrian Federation.
The 54-year-old will stand for election at the 2010 FEI General Assembly, in Chinese Taipei, Nov. 1-6.
Rottinghuis recently stepped down as CEO and Chairman of Dutch-based Pon Holdings, an international distribution and trading company with 12,000 employees spanning 15 markets in different continents.
Now Rottinghuis wants to devote more time to the administration of the equestrian sport, which he has been committed to for the past 30 years.
“The President is the figurehead of the FEI, but the national federations are the FEI. It is only with them and other stakeholders including riders, owners, organizers, officials and sponsors, that the success of the FEI can be guaranteed. My campaign for the Presidency and, if elected, the Presidency itself will reflect and never forget that fundamental belief,” stated Rottinghuis.
“Therefore, ahead of presenting a full manifesto to the federations before this year’s World Equestrian Games, I will communicate personally with national federations and all stakeholders who rely on the FEI. Only when I have listened to them would it be appropriate to outline a program with clear deliverables,” he continued.
Rottinghuis was elected a member of the FEI Audit and Compliance Committee in 2009, but in order to avoid any conflict of interest he has stood down from this post for the period of the election.
