FIA Management Shake-Up: Sara Mariani Exits Role as D&I Director
In a significant restructuring within the FIA, Sara Mariani has exited her position as the Director of Sustainability, Diversity, and Inclusion after 18 months. This decision follows the organization’s recent modifications to its governance structure, which will separate sustainability and diversity functions into distinct divisions.
Mariani confirmed her departure in a note from her out-of-office email, expressing her disappointment at the abrupt conclusion of her tenure. "I did not expect it would end so abruptly but life goes on," she stated, underscoring her contributions and the dynamics of leadership for women in the industry.
Effective June 20, 2025, the FIA’s sustainability initiatives will now fall under the purview of Willem Groenewald, current Secretary General for Mobility, while diversity and inclusion efforts will transition to Senior HR Director Alessandra Malhame. The FIA emphasized that this restructuring aims to enhance both internal and external efforts on diversity and inclusion.
Mariani’s appointment in December 2023 was marked by a commitment to fostering inclusivity in motorsports. Following her involvement in a recent FIA conference in Macau, where she described the discussions as “very insightful,” her departure adds to a wave of recent exits within the organization, including Robert Reid, the former Deputy President for Sport.
The FIA has seen notable turnover at various levels over the past year, with positions vacated by key figures such as head of compliance Paolo Basarri and race director Niels Wittich.
Alessandra Malhame reiterated the FIA’s commitment to increasing opportunities for women within the organization, reporting that women currently comprise 32% of the workforce—nearly half in senior roles across critical departments. She noted, "We will continue to build on these foundations to ensure that brilliant female talent can flourish in our Federation."
This ongoing evolution represents the FIA’s strategic attempt to align its practices with contemporary standards of governance and representation in motorsports.
