What is it with Indian sports federations when it comes to implementing corporate norms of governance? Raghuram Iyer, the newly appointed chief executive officer of the Indian Olympic Association, was reportedly welcomed on his first day in office on Monday with “no designated place to work from”.
Per New Indian Express, Iyer spent some time in the IOA headquarters and left for the day.
It was on January 5 that the IOA had announced the appointment of Iyer as CEO after its executive committee (EC) meeting.
On Monday, it was the very same EC (or at least members of its “old guard”} that put a spanner in the works. New Indian Express reports that a stand-off appeared between the CEO nomination committee, comprising IOA president PT Usha, athletes’ commission chairperson MC Mary Kom and International Olympic Committee member in India Nita Ambani, and most (emphasis ours) of the EC members on the other.
The EC on Sunday wrote a letter, signed by almost all members except one or two including the athletes’ commission, objecting to the appointment, the daily reports. One of the EC members felt the remuneration of Rs 20 lakh per month was too much, and that the appointment was made without a clear mandate of the EC. Also the appointment of CEO was not on the agenda during the EC meeting on January 5.
The president’s office, however, claimed all procedures were followed during the EC meeting. Sources told the daily that a detailed reply has been sent to the EC members. According to the president’s office, they had renegotiated the remuneration package as desired by the nomination committee.
The EC members, however, felt the IOA lacks funds to support such a hefty pay package and that there should have been more discussion on the appointment of the CEO.
