Portsmouth (England) - 18 February, 2008 - Norway's Knut Frostad (40) has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race. Frostad, who has taken part in the Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race four times, twice as skipper and manager of his own projects, will take up his position at race head quarters in Whiteley, UK, on 3 March.
With background in business management and administration, Frostad has also been a board member and industrial advisor to leading companies as well as a sought after business speaker in Europe.
Gerry Keaney, chairman of the board of Volvo Event Management and Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Corporation, said:
"We are proud to welcome a man of Knut's calibre to our team and look forward to working with him during the build up of the race and throughout the race itself. His sporting and business prowess marks him out as an excellent choice and we are very pleased that Knut has taken up the position of CEO. He is a top sailor and we welcome him onboard."
Knut Frostad said that the Whitbread/Volvo has been a big part of his life for 15 years and that this would be a dream job.
"My immediate focus is the present race. The 2008-09 race is pretty much laid out. My job is to ensure that the race is organised expertly and that we have the most successful and exciting race possible as we continue the event's evolution. The team in place in race head quarters is experienced and professional which will ensure a seamless transition."
"The 2008-09 race has the biggest course and route change in the event's history which makes it a great challenge to take on. It is going to be very exciting for us as race organisers, the participating teams, the ports and the sponsors. We have a wonderful opportunity to engage the general public in these new territories and the spectacle of the race."
The 2008-09 event will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on 4 October 2008, it will for the first time, take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier yacht race for professional racing crews.
For telephone interviews with Knut Frostad, or further media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:
Lizzie (Green) Ward
Tel: +44 1489 554 832: Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.ward@volvooceanrace.org
Full press information can be read and downloaded from:
http://press.volvooceanrace.org
Images
Tim Stonton, Picture Desk Manager
Image Archive: http://images.volvooceanrace.org
Email: images@volvooceanrace.org
Tel: +44 1489 554 856 Mob: +44 781 697 5355
