FEI appoints new Director of Eventing

The FEI is pleased to announce the appointment of Frédérique Reffet Plantier as Director of Eventing. The 39-year-old Reffet Plantier will commence her new duties on 1 January 2025.

Reffet Plantier, who holds dual Swiss and French nationality, will assume leadership of the FEI Eventing Department, formerly known as the FEI Eventing and Olympic Department. This transition follows the retirement of Catrin Norinder, who has dedicated 37 years of service to the FEI and will conclude her tenure at the end of 2024.

Working with the FEI since 2012, Reffet Plantier started in the Eventing and Olympic Department working closely with the Director and colleagues on all aspects of event and competition management, FEI Committee administration, and the development of risk management practices within the discipline.

In 2021, she transitioned into the role of Senior Manager within the office of the FEI Secretary General, allowing her to gain valuable experience in governance and decision-making, significantly expanding her skill set in both leadership and management.

“Throughout her time at the FEI, we have had the pleasure of observing Frédérique's  significant contributions across her various roles,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

“She has approached each challenge with unwavering professionalism and has demonstrated an exceptional ability to manage complex projects.

“Frédérique is well placed to take on this key role within the organisation, with her comprehensive knowledge of the Eventing discipline and her familiarity with the internal workings of the FEI governance structures. Her inclusive and supportive nature has made her a trusted and valued member of the FEI team at our headquarters in Lausanne and we are excited to see the next chapter of the FEI Eventing Department develop under her leadership.”

Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee and former Olympic Eventing gold medallist from the USA, David O’Connor said, “Frédérique brings to the Director’s position a deep understanding of the operational framework of the Eventing discipline, practical experience in implementing these elements at events worldwide, and  a sound awareness of horses as an avid equestrian herself.

“Throughout her involvement in the sport’s evolution, Frédérique has played a crucial role in significant decisions, including changes to the Olympic format and advancements in Eventing Risk Management.

“Having witnessed Frédérique’s growth within the sport, I am confident that her respect for its history, combined with her openness to new approaches for future advancement, makes her the ideal candidate for the Director of Eventing position."

Together with her husband, Reffet Plantier is currently raising two young horse enthusiasts. Her own equestrian journey also began at an early age, growing up in a family deeply connected to the equestrian world in Switzerland. She started riding at just five years old and began competing in amateur Jumping events by the age of eleven. Her passion for the sport extended beyond riding and she gained valuable experience grooming and working in various equestrian roles in Switzerland and during a gap year in the United Kingdom.

Reffet Plantier is also well-known in local riding circles, having served as President for a Swiss National Jumping Event Organising Committee and of a Regional Riders' Association.

Reffet Plantier holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Hautes Études Commerciales HEC Lausanne, a Diploma in Sport Management from the Institut de hautes études en administration publique at the University of Lausanne, and a Master’s in Marketing from the Louvain School of Management, a leading business school in Belgium.  

“I am truly honored and ready to take on this role, and I’m excited to work alongside such a highly experienced team of colleagues whose passion for the sport and horses matches my own,” Reffet Plantier said.

“My goal is to build on the outstanding work achieved during my predecessor’s tenure and to continue working with the Eventing community to ensure that we navigate both the successes and challenges together as a unified community. I would like to thank FEI President Ingmar De Vos, along with my mentors Sabrina Ibáñez and David O’Connor for their unwavering support and confidence in me as I set out on this new career challenge.”

As the FEI evolves into a key service organisation for its members, maintaining efficient operations is essential. To support this goal, the FEI Board has commissioned an independent review of operations at the FEI's headquarters and an in-depth audit of processes.

The findings, expected by the end of 2024, will help shape the operational structure of multi-sport events, like the Olympic and Paralympic Games, for the future.

For further information about recent staffing changes, please read more here.

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm. The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.