Leadership
Leadership
FIVB Volleyball Foundation Board
The Board is responsible for strategic decisions, overseeing the Foundation’s activities and ensuring alignment with its mission.
Fabio Azevedo
Volleyball Foundation Interim President
Fabio Azevedo is the President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) since November 16th, 2024, after serving as the General Director of FIVB since 2013 and as a board member since 2021. With over 30 years in the sports industry, he has managed major events globally and served as CEO of the Brazilian Volleyball Federation (CBV) for nearly 20 years, organizing about 150 events annually. Under his leadership, Brazilian volleyball teams won 15 Olympic medals and ten World Championships.
He also increased CBV’s budget from $7 million to $35 million, making volleyball Brazil’s second most popular sport. Before FIVB, Azevedo ran Sports4Good, working with clients like the NBA and World Military Games. He also taught sports management at two universities in Rio de Janeiro until 2013.
Charles Joye
Volleyball Foundation’s Secretary and Board Member
Dr. Charles Joye, a specialist in intellectual property and medical law, holds a doctorate in law from the University of Lausanne (UNIL). He began his career with two business law firms, gaining a decade of experience in litigation and corporate counselling, particularly in unfair competition, intellectual property, tort, labour law, and commercial contracts.
In the sports sector, Charles advises a major international sports federation on association law, marketing and audiovisual rights, antitrust and unfair competition law, copyright, and labour law. He is also recognized for his expertise in medical law and data protection, providing specialized advice to healthcare establishments.
Charles teaches intellectual property and technological research law at EPFL and UNIL. He is a legal member of the Canton of Vaud Human Research Ethics Commission and Chairman of the Gustave Buchet Foundation.
Yuji Saeki
Board Member
Yuji Saeki is a president and CEO of Mikasa Corporation, a company in Hiroshima with over 100 years of history. He joined Mikasa in 2013 and became a president and CEO the following year.
As the 9th generation president, Yuji has been leading Mikasa for over a decade, showcasing its strong presence in rubber products in fields such as volleyball under the “MIKASA” brand, as well as in the vessels and pump sectors.
With managing the overseas branches in the United States, Thailand, and the Netherlands, Yuji contributes to the further development of volleyball and sports on a global scale.
After graduating from university, Yuji worked for a major spring manufacturer in Japan, followed by 14 years at a bolt manufacturer, where he dedicated as a managing director. He is leading Mikasa, a global company, with his experience.
Giuseppe Manfredi
Board Member
Giuseppe Manfredi, born on June 1, 1953, in Alberobello (Bari), has dedicated his career to sports and public service. A former football and volleyball player, he became a certified FIPAV volleyball coach in 1972.
He joined the FIPAV Bari Provincial Committee in 1978, serving as President from 1987 to 1992, and later led the Puglia Regional Committee until 2005 and again from 2008 to 2012. A member of the FIPAV Federal Council since 1992, he was elected National Vice President in 2012.
Manfredi played a key role in organising the 2014 Women’s and 2018 Men’s Volleyball World Championships in Bari. Honoured with the CONI Gold Star for Sports Merit, he has been President of the Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV) since his election in 2021.
Olivier Zysset
Board Member
Mr. Zysset is the founder and CEO of UNICYS Ltd. This holding company is an administrative wealth management company, specializing in advice, finance, accounting, taxes and real estate, for individuals or companies.
He worked for many years as an auditor in the Big4 in Switzerland. His knowledge of industrial companies led him to create his accounting, tax and advisories company in 2006. Since then, he has been a lecturer at the High School of Management (HEIG-VD), expert for the examination of Swiss certified accountant and was elected Board of Director member of small and middle caps and companies of listed group, treasurer of sports associations or foundation. He is regularly mandated during judicial finance expertise.
Olivier Zysset is a member of the Association of Swiss Certified Accountants and of the Swiss Academy of Board of Directors.
Alejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández
Honorary Board Member
Mireya Luis, born on August 25, 1967, in Aguilar, Camaguey, Cuba, is a celebrated volleyball player. Starting at age 10, she quickly rose to prominence, joining the Cuban National Team at 15. Over 18 years, she led the team to numerous victories: Olympic gold in 1992, 1996, and 2000; World Championship gold in 1994 and 1998; and World Cup gold in 1989, 1991, 1995, and 1999.
Named the best spiker in the world several times, she also earned a place in the Massachusetts Hall of Fame and was listed among Cuba’s top 100 athletes of the 20th century. Post-retirement, Mireya has promoted human values through global social projects. Currently, she is a member of the FIVB Board of Administration, Vice President of NORCECA, and a Member of the Board and Ambassador of the Volleyball Foundation.
Her Royal Highness Princess Ayah bint Faisal of Jordan
Honorary Board Member
Princess Ayah bint Faisal, born on February 11, 1990, is the eldest daughter of Prince Feisal bin al Hussein and Princess Alia Tabbaa, and niece to King Abdullah II of Jordan.
As President of the Jordanian Volleyball Federation and a board member of the Jordan Olympic Committee, Princess Ayah is a key figure in Jordanian sports administration. Her passion for volleyball began in her school years and continues today, inspiring her to promote the sport for young girls and women in Jordan.
In 2023, she led the Jordanian delegation to the 15th Arab Games in Algeria. Princess Ayah also enjoys athletics, badminton, wakeboarding, and martial arts, and follows football, basketball, boxing, and gymnastics. She married Mohammed Talal al Halawani in 2014, and they have three children.
Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani of Qatar
Honorary Board Member
As Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani drives its mission to support Qatar’s economic and social development through education, science, and community initiatives.
A graduate of Qatar Academy and HEC Paris in Qatar, she believes in education’s power to transform lives and strengthen societies. Leading QF, she oversees a diverse organization with a 5,000-strong workforce involved in education, research, health, sustainability, and more.
Her Excellency serves on boards of several institutes, including Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Qatar National Library. In 2022, she joined the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Education Commission. Holding degrees from Duke University, University College London, and an Executive MBA from HEC Paris, her leadership exemplifies women’s pivotal role in Qatar’s development.
Nick Clarry
Honorary Board Member
Nick Clarry is a Managing Partner at CVC, joining in 2003 and leading Sports, Media & Entertainment globally. His first major sports investment was in Formula One in 2006, helping to globalize the sport until its sale to Liberty Media in 2017. This and the MotoGP investment established sports IP as an asset class for CVC.
Nick has since led significant investments, including La Liga, LFP (Ligue 1), Six Nations Rugby, Premiership Rugby, United Rugby Championship, Volleyball World, Women’s Tennis Association, Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Bruin Capital, Stage Entertainment, and SkyBet. Before CVC, Nick spent 10 years in investment banking, mainly in mergers & acquisitions at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
For a detailed understanding of the Foundation’s legal framework and governance, please download the FIVB Volleyball Foundation statutes here