24 Hours of Le Mans

A new organisation of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest!

The finish of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours on June 14th will also mark the final day of the current organisation structure of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. On June 15th several changes will take place within the organisation.

Just under a year ago Rémy Brouard joined the Automobile Club de l’Ouest as the new CEO and as of June 15th he will be managing a team of six senior managers.

- Vincent Beaumesnil will become the new Sports Manager, in charge of the tracks, driving schools, training courses (automobile, motorbike, karting and ‘criterium’ – (centre for young children to teach them of road awareness) ), of the calendar and the organisation of the races, and of relations with the teams on the Le Mans circuit.
- Emmanuel Rouault has been appointed as Manager of Finance, Administration and Legal matters. He was in charge of the financial part of the A.C.O. already.
- Patrick Chaillou, currently in charge of the communications and press department of the ACO, will become manager of the ACO Club and will be in charge of developing new ACO CLUB 24 products for the fans.
- Fabrice Bourrigaud will become Marketing and Communications Manager. This new post will include marketing strategy, partnerships and sponsoring, TV rights, marketing of products outside races, communication and the Internet, licences and merchandising. Magali Serafin will be in charge of press relations and will be attached to Fabrice Bourrigaud.
- Michele Baillieux has been appointed as a senior manager, but will remain in charge of Human Resources and Training.

Jean-Marc Desnues, currently in charge of “Club and Social Life”, will become General Manager of the new subsidiary company, “ACO Prévention” (50%- owned with Matmut). Desnues, who is a member of the FIM (International Motorbike Federation) and of the FFM (French Motorbike Federation) will represent the Automobile Club de l’Ouest CEO with regard to its motorbike activities.

The current Sporting Director of the ACO, Daniel Poissenot, will become ‘a consultant to the Management Committee in matters regarding the development of the “24 Heures” Auto and of the “Le Mans” races.’ Poissenot will remain Clerk of the Course of the both the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Series. He will also be in charge of the sports and technical organisation of the upcoming Asian Le Mans Series.

The Sports Committee, which determines and proposes the “Le Mans” rules to the ACO Management Committee, is now made up of 5 people : Rémy Brouard, Pierre Fillon, Jacques Leseur, Vincent Beaumesnil and Daniel Poissenot, who will be in charge of its coordination. Bernard Dudot will assist the Management Committee in its reflections. Daniel Perdrix will be in charge of ratifying cars and verifying that they are in compliance with the rules. He will be attached to the Sports Committee and to Rémy Brouard.

(Info: Automobile Club de l’Ouest)