NEW YORK, NY (CMC) – CONCACAF has named Colombian Enrique Sanz as its new general secretary, the first major appointment made by newly installed president, Jeffrey Webb.
The 38-year-old Sanz replaces acting general secretary Ted Howard, who has performed the role since the resignation of the controversial American Chuck Blazer last December.
Sanz currently serves as vice-president of Traffic Sports USA, a leading football marketing company in Latin America, where he has had responsibility for the CONCACAF region for the last seven years.
A release from the organisation said the move had been “unanimously approved” by CONCACAF’s executive committee.
“Sanz will have a key role in the administration of CONCACAF. I am certain that we have found a professional with competence and integrity to implement our road map to reform,” Webb said.
Sanz brings an impressive background in marketing to his new post. He was founder and chief executive of Media Sports Marketing, a football marketing agency, and also served as vice-president of Interforever Sports, another premier football marketing company which serviced the CONCACAF region.
He also played a crucial role in helping to establish the new North American Soccer League in the United States.
“I am honoured to have been appointed as General Secretary. Although not without challenge, I foresee a great new era for the confederation,” Sanz said.
“With this appointment, and as part of CONCACAF’s new leadership, I understand that my mandate is to oversee the administration of the CONCACAF, so that we may achieve our mission, which is to develop football throughout the region.”
Sanz’s appointment marks another phase in Webb’s reorganisation of CONCACAF which is the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, following the controversial cash-for-votes scandal which rocked the organisation last year.
Webb himself was elected last May to finish the term started by Trinidadian Jack Warner who resigned last year at the height of the scandal.
Blazer, formerly a member of FIFA’s powerful executive committee, was one of the figures at the centre of the cash-for-votes scandal as it was his report that initiated FIFA’s investigation into the alleged corruption.