Johan Eliasch (*1962)

Johan Eliasch was elected as the FIS President on 4th June 2021, becoming just the fifth person in the history of FIS in the role. He was re-elected for a second term in 2022.

Eliasch spent many years working in the sports manufacturing industry, having previously worked in the private equity industry.  In particular, 25 years ago he acquired the Austrian sporting goods company HEAD, which had subsequently been built into one of the world’s leading private companies.

Beyond the sporting world, Eliasch has become a leading expert on solutions to issues caused by climate change, advising the UK Government on Deforestation and Clean Energy. In 2005, he created the Rainforest Trust, and in 2006, he co-founded Cool Earth. He has advised British Prime Ministers, and Shadow ministers, and currently is President of the political think tank, Global Strategy Forum.

Eliasch has many business interests, which have allowed him to build a considerable knowledge base.  Current roles include being Chairman of Equity Partners, and the Saatchi Gallery; and a Director of Aman Resorts, London Films, the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, Longleat and Pitch@Palace Global. He is an advisory board member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions, Brasilinvest, and the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

In the past he has served on the boards of IMG (2006–13) and the British Paralympics Association (2002-2009), the sports advisory board of Shimon Peres Peace Centre (1997-2016), the advisory boards of the World Peace Foundation (1996-2002), Societe du Louvre (2005-2015), the Centre for Social Justice 2004–2015, the British Olympic Association (2003-2012) and Capstar (2013-2015). He was non-executive chairman of Starr Managing Agents (2008-2015) and of Investcorp Europe (2010-2014). He was non-executive director of Acasta Enterprises (2015–17). He was a member of the Mayors of Jerusalem and Rome's International Business Advisory Councils (2010-2016). He was a trustee of the Kew Foundation (2010-2016). He chaired the Food, Energy and Water security program at RUSI (2010-2016). He was a member of the Mayor of London's (Boris Johnson) International Business Advisory Council (2008-2016).