Hockey Ireland chief executive Jerome Pels will step down after five years as head of the sport. As the Irish women's team continues their preparations for this summer's World Cup in the Netherlands and Spain, Pels is moving to head up another national governing body in England.
Pels joined Hockey Ireland in January 2017 and during his tenure, the sport enjoyed historic moments reaching a climax when the women’s senior team made it to a World Cup final in 2018 and earned a silver medal.
Olympic qualification was achieved in groundbreaking fashion with Leinster’s rugby ground in Donnybrook hosting 13,000 fans over two days, while the development of a new training base at Abbotstown, in conjunction with Sport Ireland, have significantly raised standards.
It has led to increased sponsorship and greater levels of supports for the game with the installation of a full-time coach education manager and more regional development officers as well as the return of a high performance director.
The recent introduction of a new membership system will also provide a more secure financial model for the sport to pursue its goals and support the game at club, school and international level.
Paying tribute to Pels, Hockey Ireland chairman Trevor Watkins said:
“During a period of significant change, opportunity and potential pitfalls, Jerome has been a calm and steady influence on Hockey Ireland and helped navigate the sport to a number of significant milestones.
“Hockey is undergoing a really exciting time and he has been at the helm during a time when the sport made big inroads into the Irish public conscience and we look forward to building on those solid foundations with ambition and optimism.”
“Whilst I am excited by the challenges that lie ahead at my new role as chief executive for another NGB in England, it is with a heavy heart that I am leaving Hockey Ireland,” Pels said of his decision to stand down.
