During his time at the FEI, the Spaniard oversaw the full revision of the body's jumping rules, the delivery of competition at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the World Championships, World Cup and Nations Cup Finals.

"The FEI and the greater equestrian community have lost a true friend, loyal equestrian, mentor and aficionado," FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. 

"Marco always gave it his all - he was not one for half measures or taking the easy option - and everyone respected him for his tenacity, his integrity and his good business sense.

"Marco was true to his convictions and was always true to himself.

"He was passionate about the sport and about the people, rational beyond measure and simply a wonderful human being.

"His generosity and thoughtfulness, as well as his wise insights and remarkable ability to recall and recount countless anecdotes, made him memorable and colourful at every encounter.

"Marco said that to be appointed FEI jumping director was his dream job, and for us, he was our dream candidate - passionate, experienced, knowledgeable, genuine, caring, determined and driven to do the right thing for the sport and for the people in the sport.

"We will miss him dearly at the FEI, and I know the entire community is also mourning his loss and everything he stood for."

Before joining the FEI, Fuste was director of jumping for the Spanish Equestrian Federation and chef d'equipe of the Spanish jumping team from 2006 to 2021.

He also served as a member of the FEI jumping committee from 2011 to 2015.

Prior to this, he had worked at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and the Jerez 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games.