New arrivals at FIA after high-profile departures

LONDON Formula One's governing body announced two senior appointments after headline departures triggered talk of an exodus from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) led by Emirati Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

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The FIA said on Oct 9 that Spaniard Alberto Villarreal had joined as general manager, reporting to Ben Sulayem and senate president Carmelo Sanz de Barros, in a role "bringing leadership to the FIA administration".

He effectively takes over from Natalie Robyn, the FIA's first chief executive officer who left in May after serving for just 18 months, although the job has become more streamlined since her departure.

Robyn was the fourth senior employee to depart since December, with sporting director Steve Nielsen, single-seater technical director Tim Goss and women's commission head Deborah Mayer all leaving before her.