Urs Lehmann resigns as FIS CEO – dispute with President Eliasch

Background of the Dispute

However, the extent of the discord is made clear by statements Lehmann made to Swiss-Ski. He described the financial situation of the federation as "miserable": FIS would be "bankrupt in two years" if things continued as they are at the world ski federation. This assessment contradicts Eliasch's portrayal, who emphasizes that the federation is financially on track.

Eliasch, who turns 64 this month, is due for re-election as FIS President on June 11th as part of the regular election cycle. However, according to Blick's assessment, his chances of another term are slim. If he is voted out, the report suggests, it could open up the possibility for Lehmann to return to the FIS leadership under new management as CEO.

Dispute over Finances

According to the report, Lehmann himself was initially reserved about the timing of his resignation. He stated that he wanted to make a more detailed public statement "out of respect for the elections" only after the vote on June 11th. Thus, his departure politically falls into a phase where the future of the FIS leadership as a whole is up for debate.

The case sheds light on the leadership crisis that has been simmering within the world ski federation for months. Even before Lehmann took office as operational head, the president's role was controversial, partly due to the question of how much power Eliasch should delegate to the newly created CEO position. With Lehmann's departure, the federation loses its recently appointed manager – and precisely before a groundbreaking election.

Outlook on the FIS Election

Most recently, Lehmann was known in Switzerland primarily as the long-time president of Swiss-Ski, a position he held before moving to FIS. Furthermore, even before his CEO role, he was president of FIS Ski, a sub-organization of the world federation. His renewed departure is likely to further intensify the personnel discussions surrounding the FIS leadership.

The coming days are considered crucial: If Eliasch loses the re-election on June 11th, it could open the doors for Lehmann's return – or plunge the world ski federation into an even deeper leadership crisis. The official confirmation of the resignation by FIS is still pending; Lehmann's statements are currently based on inquiries from Keystone-SDA and reports from Blick and Swiss-Ski.