The Frenchman will join the WFDF Board, which made the appointment, and serve through until December of this year.

It follows the departure of previous head Patrick van der Valk, who has resigned to focus on other projects within the sport.

Pires was deputy chair of the Committee and does not intend to run for the job on a full-time basis when elections are held in December.

It means a search for candidates has now been opened, with the new chairman set to begin a two-year term on January 1, 2017.

"Patrick has been a visionary driving the development of Beach Ultimate for nearly two decades," said WFDF President Robert Rauch. 

"In addition, the global disc community commends him for his incredible contributions to WFDF since becoming a Board member in 2011."

France is due to host the 2017 World Championship of Beach Ultimate in Royan, with 120 teams set to take part.

"It is in my personal as well as professional nature to grow and solidify ideas and hand them off when the time is right," said van der Valk. 

"I started promoting and growing beach ultimate 16 years ago, and believe the growth of the World Championships of Beach Ultimate is indicative that the sport has evolved significantly; it is no longer a start-up. 

"Since I need to focus my energy on some new projects, and considering my rapidly increasing responsibilities as WFDF representative at the event, the time was right to hand my WFDF responsibilities to someone else."