The FIA has confirmed a significant leadership update with the appointment of Spaniard Alberto Villarreal as its new general manager. Reporting directly to FIA President Ben Sulayem and Senate President Carmelo Sanz de Barros, Villarreal’s role is expected to “bring leadership to the FIA Administration,” as the organization restructures its executive team.
Villarreal effectively replaces Natalie Robyn, the FIA’s first-ever CEO, who exited in May after an 18-month tenure. Her departure marks another chapter in a wave of senior exits that have raised eyebrows within the motorsport community. The FIA has since streamlined the role, aiming to stabilize an administration that has seen high turnover.
Robyn’s departure follows that of several other high-profile figures. Since December, the FIA has bid farewell to sporting director Steve Nielsen, single-seater technical director Tim Goss, and women’s commission head Deborah Mayer. These exits were compounded by the departure of the director of communications, the secretary general of mobility, the head of commercial legal affairs, and the governance and regulatory director.
Adding to the management overhaul, Italian Alessandra Malhame has joined the organization as the senior HR director, signaling further efforts to stabilize and rebuild the administration’s core functions.
FIA President Ben Sulayem, who has been at the helm since late 2021 and is expected to seek a second term, has been a polarizing figure. The former rally driver has made headlines for his clashes with Liberty Media, Formula One’s commercial rights holders, and for his outspoken stance on various issues involving drivers. Despite his early 2023 statement about stepping back from the day-to-day involvement in F1, Sulayem has remained active, recently criticizing drivers for their use of profanity, notably ordering Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to perform community service for swearing at a press conference during the Singapore Grand Prix.
Sulayem’s manifesto initially promised the appointment of a CEO to ensure a cohesive and integrated operation within the FIA, along with a revised governance framework. With Villarreal’s appointment and the continuous restructuring, it remains to be seen whether these changes will stabilize the organization or if the leadership carousel will persist.
