World Sailing has strengthened its sustainability team with two new appointments, bringing in Anne-Cécile Turner as Head of Sustainability and Alejandro Bacot Tamayo to lead operational delivery of the sustainability programme.
It's a deliberate pairing: one setting direction, the other making sure it actually happens on the water.
Turner arrives with more than two decades of experience spanning marketing, sponsorship and environmental leadership. She trained through Harvard, The Tavistock Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature, and has previously led initiatives for the Race for Water Foundation, The Ocean Race and Sails of Change.
Across those roles she has engaged global leaders, philanthropists and major sports events to champion plastic waste reduction, biodiversity regeneration and ocean health restoration.
As Head of Sustainability, Turner will shape long-term strategy, set organisational priorities and cultivate key partnerships, while guiding the overall direction of sustainability across the global sport.
Bacot Tamayo's role differs in nature but carries equal weight. He will oversee the operational delivery and day-to-day implementation of the sustainability programme, ensuring strategic objectives are translated into practical outcomes on and off the water.
He brings his own background in major event delivery, having previously served as Deputy Director of Legacy and Sustainability for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, and having worked with the Santiago 2027 Special Olympics World Games.
Koray Ezer, Director of Sport at World Sailing, welcomed the pair. "We are delighted to welcome Anne-Cécile and Alejandro to World Sailing. These appointments reinforce World Sailing's commitment to delivering a clear strategic direction for its sustainability efforts while ensuring strong operational delivery across all global initiatives."
Ezer pointed to the combination of skills now in place. "Anne-Cécile's strategic vision and proven expertise in international sustainability leadership, combined with Alejandro's strong track record in operational execution, create a formidable team. Together, they will play a vital role in ensuring World Sailing continues to set the benchmark for sustainable sport and ocean stewardship worldwide."
The appointments add to World Sailing's push to pair strategic oversight with steady day-to-day delivery, a combination aimed at securing the sport's long-term health and resilience.
