Mr Jerome Pels, a former head of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for 17 years, will become the new Chief Executive of Irish Hockey next month.

Pels was responsible for the day to day running of the ISAF from their headquarters in Southampton. The organisation, now known as World Sailing, has had several changes at the helm since his departure.

Pels, who will start his new role in Dublin in January is related by marriage to four–times Olympic champion and eight–times world champion sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, as he is married to his sister Fleur.

The Irish Times has much more on the Pels appointment here