Ben Sulayem is running for re-election as FIA president later this year Formula 1's governing body the FIA has sacked the latest in a series of senior figures after eradicating the role of head of sustainability, diversity and inclusion. Sara Mariani wrote a note that appeared to be critical of the body's leadership as she left the FIA on Wednesday. Mariani, who had been head of sustainability, diversity and inclusion for just 18 months, wrote: "There is a life outside the FIA. A life where talent and dedication are rewarded. Where women in leadership positions can thrive, feel valued and respected." Her role was removed as part of an internal restructure that split her responsibilities across two separate divisions. The FIA has been contacted for comment on the specific allegations made by Mariani in her note, which was on her email out-of-office. Mariani was unavailable for comment. An FIA statement said it was moving sustainability under the remit of the secretary general for mobility, Willem Groenewald, and diversity and inclusion under senior human resources director Alessandra Malhame. It said this would "allow the FIA to combine its internal and external efforts on D&I" Mariani was recruited over an eight-month period through 2023 and took on her role in December of that year. The FIA statement said that the decision to remove her role had been taken "following a period of review". Mariani is the second major FIA figure to leave this year, followingthe resignation of the deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, in April. And it marks the continuation of a trend under the presidency of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is running for re-election this year and is so far unopposed. In the past year, Sulayem hassacked the FIA's head of compliance Paolo Basarri, thehead of the audit committee Bertrand Badre and committee member Tom Purves, the FIA'schief executive officer Natalie Robyn, F1race director Niels Wittich, seniorF1 steward Tim Mayer and deputy Formula 2 race director Janette Tan. These departures come against the backdrop of a series of changes to the FIA statutes introduced by Sulayem, which critics say reduce accountability and good governance and enhance the president's authority. The latest changes, voted through at last week's FIA General Assembly with a huge majority, were characterised by one opponent as being an example ofa "dark period of democratic backsliding". Sulayem has been the centre of a series of controversies since he was elected, including the emergence of misogynistic remarks on a historic website. Inseeking to justify those remarks in December 2023,external, Sulayem pointed to his setting up of the FIA's commission for equality, diversity and inclusion as evidence of a strong track record on the subject. He also mentioned that he had been the first president to appoint a female CEO. Robyn lasted the same period of time in her role as did Mariani.
FIA sack head of inclusion & diversity in restructure
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"FIA Dismisses Head of Inclusion and Diversity Amid Organizational Restructuring"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The FIA has recently undergone significant restructuring, leading to the dismissal of Sara Mariani, the head of sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, just 18 months after her appointment. This decision was part of a broader internal review that resulted in the separation of her responsibilities into two distinct divisions, with sustainability now under the secretary general for mobility and diversity and inclusion under the senior human resources director. Mariani's departure was marked by a note in which she expressed concerns about the FIA's leadership, emphasizing the importance of a supportive environment for women in leadership roles. The FIA has not yet responded to her specific allegations, which were included in her out-of-office email. The organization has been experiencing a wave of high-profile departures, including that of the deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, earlier this year, indicating a trend of significant personnel changes under the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is seeking re-election unopposed later this year.
These changes come amid growing scrutiny of the FIA's governance and accountability practices. Under Sulayem's presidency, there have been multiple high-profile firings, including the FIA's head of compliance, the chief executive officer, and several other senior positions. Critics have voiced concerns that recent amendments to the FIA's statutes, which aim to consolidate the president's powers, signal a troubling shift towards reduced accountability. These changes, approved by a significant majority at the last General Assembly, have been described by some as indicative of a "dark period of democratic backsliding." Sulayem has faced controversies, including past misogynistic remarks, but has attempted to counter these criticisms by highlighting initiatives he has implemented to promote equality and diversity within the organization, such as appointing the first female CEO and establishing a commission for equality, diversity, and inclusion. However, both Mariani and the former CEO, Natalie Robyn, experienced similar tenures in their roles, raising questions about the continuity and effectiveness of these initiatives.
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