The World Council is responsible for making public policy decisions on issues affecting the motorist, such as road safety, the environment and accessibility to transport. It is also in charge of the FIA's work in the issuing of international documents, such as customs papers. The mobility membership of the FIA represents over 100 million motorists, making the FIA the world voice of the mobile consumer.
The new members, who take up vacated positions, are Canadian Automobile Association president Tim Shearman, Automobile Club of Argentina president Jorge Rosales, Automobile Association of the Philippines president Augusto Langman, Automobile Association of South Africa managing director Karen Bryden, and Rudolf Zumbühl, who is a member of the board of directors of the Touring Club of Switzerland.
All of the new members, along with current members, have a huge amount of experience in the automotive sector.
Shearman was appointed president of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) in December 2007. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, he also holds an MBA from McMaster University in International Business as well as a number of professional certifications including a certificate in Business Administration, Investment Funds, and the Canadian Securities Course.
He began his career as a financial analyst with a telecom firm before transferring his skills to the banking world where he held a series of progressively senior management positions. In his time at CAA, Shearman has earned a reputation for working collaboratively with National Office staff, with Club CEOs, and external stakeholder groups.
Rosales was appointed president of the Automobile Club of Argentina (ACA) in 2008, replacing Juan Manuel Sandberg. He joined the ACA in 1969, part time at first while he completed his degree in labor law at the University of Buenos Aires. Five years ago he was appointed Vice President of the club. During his 33 years in the club's administration he has developed an integral knowledge of the club's services, allowing him to find new markets for the club to work in.
Appointed President of the Automobile Association of the Philippines in 2005, Langman's involvement in the administration of motoring and motor sport began in 1983, when he became President of the Auto Rallye Club of the Philippines (ARCP). He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and has received awards for IT Industry Development from various organisations in the Philippines. He was President of the San Beda College Alumni Association and currently acts as a member of various committees in the Philippines involved in civic orientated activities.
Bryden was appointed Managing Director of the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) this year, following the retirement of Ed Kok. She has spent more than 20 years in the employ of the AASA, during which she has become closely acquainted with all facets of the autoclub business.
Her career at the AA started in the Travel department. She subsequently became secretary to the managing director, and was appointed to the AA Corporate team in the early 1990s. Following her participation in the strategic evaluation team, which helped define the AA's future strategy, Bryden became head of Marketing, and also set up the AA's Value Added Services division which launched the first loyalty program in 2003. Prior to her appointment as Managing Director, she was the head of AA Road Services, the AA's largest division.
Zumbühl is a member of the board of directors of the Touring Club of Switzerland (TCS) and following the departure of TCS President, Edgar Schorderet, he became the principle TCS representative to the FIA before being invited to join the World Council.
After reading International Relations at the University of Saint-Gallen, he stayed on as an economic researcher. In 1986 he became a scientific adviser to the Secretary General of Christian Democratic Party of Switzerland. In 1986 he joined the TCS as head of the Economic and Political unit. Since 2004 he has been a member of the board of directors and in addition since 2008 a member of the administrative council of the Mobility Academy founded by the TCS.
The new composition of the World Council for the Automobile, Mobility and Tourism is as follows:
Max Mosley (GB), FIA President, Franco Lucchesi (Italy) FIA Deputy President for the Automobile, Mobility, and Tourism
Vice Presidents:
Werner Kraus (Austria), Sebastián Salvado (Spain), Guido van Woerkom (Netherlands), Setsuo Tanaka (Japan), Gabriel Gonzales (Mexico), Victor Rubén Dumot Martinez (Paraguay), Jorge Rosales (Argentina)
Members:
Carlos Barbosa (Portugal), Jan Johansen (Norway), Karen Bryden (South Africa), Zoltan Kovacs (Hungary), Peter Meyer (Germany), Boris Perko (Slovenia), Thierry Willemarck (Belgium), Rudolf Zumbühl (Switzerland), Augusto Lagman (Phillipines), Brian Gibbons (New Zealand)