In his new role, Montgomery will focus on the areas of education, competition programme developments and event delivery from the bidding process to the operations of IPC summer sports, which includes athletics, swimming, powerlifting, shooting and wheelchair dance sport.

"After my time spent with IPC Athletics and seeing the sport grow to become the biggest in Paralympic sport, I am very excited for the opportunity to support and work with our other summer sports teams to achieve our collective goals and objectives," Montgomery said.

Montgomery carries over four years of experience from IPC Athletics, where he started as manager of the department in August 2011 and served as its head since April 2014.

During his tenure, Montgomery oversaw the development of a structured competition portfolio, providing the platform for increased media and broadcast awareness, as well as revenues for Para-athletics outside of the Paralympic Games.

He also delivered and enhanced the IPC Athletics education programmes, which now cater for technical officiating and classification in multiple languages and platforms.

The sport has also seen an overall growth of 26 per cent in licensed Para-athletes, comprising a 28 per cent growth in female athletes and 24 per cent growth in male athletes.

"I need to acknowledge the IPC and IPC Athletics teams, our volunteers groups, Local Organising Committees and partners for their contribution to driving the development of IPC Athletics into a leading sport within the Paralympic Movement," said Montgomery.

"The ability to work together with common objectives gives me confidence moving forward with my new role, and the confidence in leading successful teams in the further development of the IPC summer sports."

Haozhe Gao has been promoted to the role of IPC Athletics senior manager and will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, however, Montgomery will ultimately remain responsible for IPC Athletics.

"I am convinced that this change will ensure the necessary support for the IPC summer sports in continuing the successful delivery of their strategic priorities," said Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC chief executive.

"I believe it will further enhance the harmonisation of all IPC summer sports activities and their integration with the rest of the IPC departments."

Last month, Montgomery expressed his confidence that the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha will prove to be a very successful event when it takes place from October 21 to 31.

Heading an IPC delegation, Montgomery visited Qatar’s capital city to watch the Gulf Cooperation Council Para-athletics Championships, where he met with Doha 2015 chief executive Ameer al-Mulla.

The World Championships are set to feature 1,300 athletes from 100 countries, a 21 per cent increase on the numbers who took part at the 2013 edition in Lyon.

Doha 2015 is also due to feature 39 per cent more female athletes than two years ago.



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