Brussels, Belgium: 28th – 29th March 2025
President’s Welcome:
The President, Marcos Hofmann opened the meeting by thanking all members for attending the first board meeting of the year.
Marcos provided a brief overview of the indoor season, commending the well-organised EuroHockey events and sharing insights from the FIH Indoor World Cup in Croatia.
He also updated the board on the newly appointed Presidents and CEOs of National Associations, where members of the staff had initiated calls with them to inform them of the work and communication channels between Members and EuroHockey. Many of them will be present at the EuroHockey Executive Leadership Forum this weekend.
Finally, Marcos provided a brief update on key matters from the most recent FIH Executive Board meeting.
Approval of Minutes:
The minutes from the meeting held on 29th – 30th November 2024 were approved with minor amendments.
Strategy and Development:
Tom Pedersen-Smith provided the board with an update on the DIGI project, demonstrating the portal and platform and explaining how they function.
He also shared progress on the Organisational Health project, outlining the achievements of the past three years, upcoming developments, and how EuroHockey supports National Associations in creating and implementing their strategic and operational plans.
Peter Elders gave a brief update on the key matters discussed in the previous day’s Development Committee meeting.
Tom also updated the board on the EU funding bids submitted by EuroHockey for the coming years, providing an overview of each project and detailing those in which EuroHockey will participate as a partner.
Marketing:
Siobhán Madeley and Jokko de Wit presented the board with the first draft of EuroHockey’s proposed marketing plan, outlining the key objectives and strategic approach to building a plan.
Gabriele Lemmle highlighted the significance of having a strong marketing plan, highlighting the potential value and impact it could bring to EuroHockey’s growth and visibility.
Commercial:
Jokko also delivered a commercial report, providing insights into the progress made in the first quarter, including an update on the OTT Business Case. He detailed what had been achieved from a commercial perspective and outlined opportunities for further development.
Angus Kirkland briefly introduced the EHTV member offer, providing an overview of its benefits and potential opportunities for EuroHockey and our Members.
Communications:
Gabriele Lemmle and Siobhán Madeley presented the board with a comprehensive communications report following the indoor season. They provided an overview of EuroHockey’s communications strategy and outcomes for 2024, including key priorities and initiatives that had been undertaken.
The report also included a detailed analysis of EuroHockey’s social media presence, outlining engagement metrics across various platforms and highlighting trends in audience interaction.
Additionally, they discussed the content planning strategy for the Euro Hockey League (EHL), emphasising efforts to enhance visibility and fan engagement.
Competitions:
Walter Kapounek and David Voskamp provided the board with a general overview of the challenges faced across Europe in organising events. He highlighted key issues affecting both indoor and outdoor competitions and gave an update on recent and upcoming tournaments.
Angus Kirkland and Peter Elders presented an update on the upcoming EHL event over Easter, outlining the venue plan, side events, and the overall progress of preparations. They assured the board that everything is on track for a successful tournament.
Angus also provided an update on the EuroHockey Championships for 2025 and 2027, detailing the latest developments in planning, host arrangements, and the strategic direction for both events.
Global Strategy session:
Marcos Hofmann provided an overview of the discussions within the FIH regarding the global strategy for hockey.
He revisited the Hockey Revolution Strategy 2014-2024, offering a high-level analysis of its objectives and what has been achieved since its implementation.
To contribute to the discussion on hockey’s future direction, Marijke Fleuren, Erik Cornelissen, and Minke Booij were invited to join the session.
They provided insights and suggestions for both EuroHockey and the FIH, highlighting the need for a forward-thinking approach to the risks that governing bodies are ready to take in relation to the initiatives they want to embark.
Finance report:
Levi Van Havere presented the board with the 2024 year-end financial figures, which are currently in the process of being audited.
He also provided a brief update on the financial outlook for 2025 and introduced the new accounting system that has recently been implemented.
The meeting concluded at 12:30 CET.
