InfrontRingier appoints new MD

InfrontRingier Sports & Entertainment Switzerland, the Infront Sports & Media agency’s 50-per-cent joint venture with Swiss media company Ringier, has appointed Gian Gilli as its new managing director.

Gilli (pictured) replaces Armin Meier, who stepped down from his position in September. The 57-year-old will begin work on November 16 and will head the company until mid-2018. Alongside him, Lukas Troxler, current director of marketing and business development, will assume the position of deputy managing director.

Gilli has previously worked on a number of major sporting events, including as sports director of the 2003 Alpine Ski World Championships in St Moritz and as secretary general of the 2009 Ice Hockey World Championship in Bern and Kloten.

Alongside his InfrontRingier commitments, which will include the organisation of, amongst others, cycling and football events, Gilli will remain the secretary general of the organising committee for the 2020 Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland.

He will dedicate 20 per cent of his time to the championship over the next two-and-a-half years before taking on a full-time secretary general role upon the expiration of his contract with InfrontRingier in 2018.

“Gian Gilli is well established in the Swiss sports landscape and has an excellent network,” Marc Walder, chief executive of Ringier and chairman of the board of InfrontRingier, said. “Together with the dedicated team in place, he will – over the next two-and-a-half years – set the course for the long-term future of the company.”

Gilli added: “I am convinced that over the coming years we will continue to carve a significant footprint in the Swiss sports market.”