PATRICK LEFEVERE TO STEP DOWN AS SOUDAL QUICK STEP CEO
PROFESSIONALS | 10/12/2024 | 20:38 Soudal Quick-Step have announced a change to its management structure, which will see Patrick Lefevere step down as its CEO on December 31st, 2024. Under the new arrangement, the current COO Jurgen Foré will step up to CEO and is to take charge of the running of the team on a day-to-day basis.
Foré joined the team in early 2024, having had a long career in business with his last position being as a partner with Deloitte. He steps-up to the role of CEO, fostering his relationships with the team and its sponsors and partners, that he has built up over the last 12 months while serving as COO. He will continue strengthening the sportive, commercial and operational processes of the team, working together with our riders, staff, sponsors and partners.
Foré will be working as part of an executive board, which will be made up of majority shareholder Zdenek Bakala and Auret Van Zyl, who has for a long time been the team’s legal counsel and brings a wealth of experience from within the cycling industry. Lefevere will also be part of the new structure as an honorary board member. The board’s focus will be on evolving the team’s strategy going forewords.
Patrick Lefevere founded Soudal Quick-Step in 2003, combining his insight of the sport of cycling with a knowledge of economics and business that he picked up as an accountant, to build what was to become the most successful team in professional cycling. Under Lefevere’s stewardship the team has reached almost 1000 victories, which includes 22 Monuments, 1 Grand Tour and 124 Grand Tour stages, 3 Olympic gold medals, 19 World Championship golds, and 4 European Championships, as well as countless other races. More than just the eye-catching results, Lefevere fostered a family feel and loyalty base within the team, which is almost unique within a sport of such a transient nature. The team earned the moniker of ‘The Wolfpack’ as they are famed for its team spirit and willing to race as a collective, who were prepared to go in to battle for each other. The atmosphere within in the team is demonstrated when examining the team’s staff list, many of whom have been loyal to the team since the very early days of its existence.
Speaking of the changes, Soudal Quick-Step majority shareholder Mr Zdenek Bakala said: “I would like to start by thanking Patrick for his dedication and passion in making Soudal Quick-Step the team it is today. Patrick has often spoken of the hard work of his staff and the riders, but that is fostered by the figure head at the top and we should not underestimate the way Patrick has built a culture that allows those riders and staff to thrive.
However, we know that at some point all things change and we feel that this is the right time to make these structural changes to our team’s management, which have been made with the agreement of all parties. With this transition I demonstrate my commitment to the long-term future of the team and ensuring a bright future for Soudal Quick-Step.”
Outgoing CEO Patrick Lefevere said: “It is a life changing moment to leave a role that I have committed so much of my life to. Cycling is a sport that I am still deeply passionate about, and it has been a great honour to head up this beautiful team and make so many special memories.
But I felt that it was the right moment for this change. When I started to work with Jurgen one year ago, it was with a view to smoothing out the transition for when I would eventually leave. I have seen how his relationships with our sponsors and partners, as well as the team’s internal stakeholders has grown over the last 12 months, and I know that with Jurgen taking over as CEO and with the board’s backing, that this team has a bright future.
There are countless people that I need to thank, far too many to mention individually, but there are of course my family, the team’s talented riders, our dedicated staff, our loyal sponsors, all of which is backed by the generosity and support of our team owner Mr. Zdenek Bakala.”
New Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré said: “I am extremely proud to take over as CEO of this historic team. Patrick Lefevere has been a figurehead in professional cycling, who all have great respect and admiration for. He has been able to build a firm base and stability that has seen this team grow for over two decades. I would like to personally thank him for the support that he has given me over the past 12 months since I joined the team. I understand and feel how special this organisation is, and I will do everything in my power to take care of it.
I will now look to lead this team, working towards securing its long-term future. I have been involved in cycling in several roles and as part of the team’s management and I am confident that by combining this with my experience in business, it will allow me to build a structure that can take Soudal Quick-Step from strength to strength.”
Diciamo che ultimamente non è che fosse, diciamo, infallibile...
Remco
11 dicembre 2024 10:34Maurone
Magari adesso si guarderà un po' in giro..........
AUGURI
11 dicembre 2024 15:16fido113
Senza dubbio il più carismatico del gruppo.
@ pedro
11 dicembre 2024 15:52Arrivo1991
Innegabilmente ha fatto grandi cose, spesso con meno "mezzi" e atleti che venivano dati per finiti ( si veda la scommessa M.Cavendish). Da lui, taluni saccenti team manager da zero risultati annui ( ma pompati dalla stampa Italica ), avrebbero solo da imparare.
Un personaggio
11 dicembre 2024 20:43CarloBike
Comunque lo si guardi, e' stato un personaggio il sig.Lefevere. Spesso fuori schema e anche fuori tema. Ha comunque vinto molto e gestito grandi campioni. E' figlio di un'epoca che non esiste più,nel bene o nel male, a seconda di quale ciclismo piace o piaceva. Di certo, lo ricorderanno in tanti. Una figura carismatica.
Per poter commentare i post devi esser registrato.
Se sei giá nostro utente esegui il login altrimenti registrati.
SCOTT unisce le forze con il NSN Cycling Team come fornitore ufficiale di biciclette, sostenendo la squadra nella sua nuova entusiasmante era. Il team con sede in Spagna e licenza svizzera, non condivide solo la nazionalità con SCOTT. La partnership rappresenta...
Nel 2028 la KNWU - Federazione olandese di ciclismo - festeggerà i suoi primi 100 anni e lo farà organizzando competizioni di altissimo livello. L'unione celebra questo anniversario con il Dutch Cycling Festival: un programma lungo un anno che renderà...
Un gravissimo lutto ha colpito il nostro collega Pietro Illarietti: si è spento all’età di 75 anni, dopo una lunga malattia, papà Franco. A Pietro e a suo fratello Mauro, a mamma Rina e a tutta la famiglia Illarietti giunga...
Avete bevuto già il caffè questa mattina? La risposta probabilmente sarà sì e, nel caso sia no, siamo sicuri diventerà sì nell'arco della giornata, soprattutto se avete in programma un'uscita in bici con gli amici. La coffee ride è un classico per...
L’olandese Yoeri Havik e il portoghese Iuri Leitão sono i primi leader della Sei Giorni di Rotterdam e guidano davanti ai campioni del mondo della madison Fabio Van den Bossche e Lindsay De Vylder e ai vincitori del Campionato Europeo...
La CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ha ufficializzato nelle scorse ore l’ingaggio nella propria formazione di sviluppo di Erja Bianchi, 18enne lombarda di Lonate Pozzolo. Dopo aver difeso i colori della Ju Green di Gorla Minore, Erja è poi passata alla Biesse...
Lo sport è uno dei mezzi migliori per comunicare con i giovani e la bella iniziativa “Dialoghi di Sport” sono tre eventi voluti dall’Assessorato allo Sport del Comune di Luni per trasmettere ai giovani l’interesse per lo sport come scuola...
A 26 anni Mattia Gaffuri ha realizzato il sogno di passare ufficialmente professionista, con l'ingaggio da parte della Picnic PostNL in seguito al suo stage in Polti VisitMalta e soprattutto alla lunga esperienza tra Swatt Club e studi da preparatore:...
Novartiplast un nome evocativo che riporta agli albori degli anni Ottanta del celebrato e compianto Mario Cioli. Colui che mise in piedi uno squadrone diretto da Domenico Garbelli e Olivano Locatelli. Colui che al ciclismo ha dato molto da vero...
Che cos’è la crono? Una corsa contro il tempo. Da solo, in coppia, in quartetto, a squadre. Con e contro il cronometro. I vecchi dicevano: partire forte, continuare fortissimo, finire alla morte. Una corsa alla morte, dunque un suicidio. Una...
5
5
Ritratti
Oscar
Albi d'Oro
