As the five FIBA zones become immersed into the world governing body, through the recently approved regional offices, the newly-elected Executive Committee has, under the proposal of secretary general Patrick Baumann, appointed five individuals to act as regional directors.

Alphonse Bile will be regional director for Africa; Alberto Garcia for the Americas; Hagop Khajirian for Asia; Kamil Novak for Europe; and David Crocker for Oceania.

During its Extraordinary Congress in March, FIBA approved amendments to provide full and direct administrative services to the member Federations in each continent through regional offices owned by FIBA, which would redefine the roles and responsibilities of the actual zones.

The appointment of these five directors completes the formal transformation of these zones into regional offices, which have also been given official locations in their respective continents.

This was also backed up by the merging of all employees of the FIBA zones and FIBA into one staff team, increasing the official FIBA staff numbers to 152 as of January 1, 2015.

The FIBA Executive Committee approved its new FIBA Management team for 2015 ©FIBA



Other decisions made during the Executive Committee meeting included the approval of the feasibility study for a number of development/representation offices across the world in strategic places in order to better serve FIBA's Member National Federations.

The Committee also confirmed the new FIBA management team under the direction of the Baumann, a member of the International Olympic Committee. 

"We have emphasised the need to help our National Member Federations who deserve particular care," said FIBA President Horacio Muratore.

"This is a crucial moment for them when they have to join us and help us fulfil our objectives within the larger picture of growing the game worldwide.

"All changes in governance are driven towards servicing them better and making them grow.

"The main role of the regional offices of FIBA will be to spend more time on the ground with the National Member Federations, while zone boards must determine which areas for development need priority from their regional perspective.

"All together we will find the necessary tools and resources to respond to those needs."

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