{{Short description|Swedish-British businessman and environmentalist}} {{protection padlock|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Johan Eliasch | image = Srečanje s predsednikom Mednarodne smučarske zveze - 21. 2. 2023 (52702685951) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Eliasch in 2023 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1962|02}}{{efn|His exact day of birth is unknown.}} | birth_place = Djursholm, Sweden | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = Sweden<br>United Kingdom | education = | alma_mater = Stockholm University<br> Royal Institute of Technology | occupation = Industrialist, Financier and Environmentalist | title = President, International Ski Federation (FIS) | predecessor = Gian-Franco Kasper | successor = | known_for = | boards = Equity Partners (Chairman)<br> London Films (Chairman)<br> Saatchi Gallery (Chairman)<br> Cool Earth (Chairman)<br> Global Strategy Forum (President)<br>Member of the IOC | spouse = {{marriage|Amanda Eliasch|1988|2006|end=divorce}} | children = 2 | parents = | relatives = | website = {{URL|https://johaneliasch.com/|official website}} }}
'''Johan Eliasch''' (born February 1962) is a Swedish-British businessman, investor, sports administrator, environmentalist, and philanthropist.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eliasch|first=Johan|title=About|url=https://johaneliasch.com/about|access-date=17 December 2021|website=Johan Eliasch|language=en-GB}}</ref> He was the chief executive of Head, a sporting goods company, from 1995 to 2021, and is now its chairman. The ''Sunday Times'' Rich List puts him in number 42 of UK's richest in May 2025 with a net worth estimated at £4 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, he co-founded Cool Earth, a charity dedicated to rainforest conservation.<ref name="BrownReuters">{{Cite news |title=UK's Brown names opposition donor as green adviser |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-brown-adviser-idUKL0763829220070907 |last=Clarke |first=David |access-date=21 June 2023 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Eliasch served as the Prime Minister's special representative for deforestation and clean energy. Since June 2021, he has served as the president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the largest international federation within the Olympic movement representing over 53% of Olympic Winter Games medal events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FIS Presidents|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/en/inside-fis/about-fis/history/fis-presidents|access-date=17 December 2021|website=www.fis-ski.com|language=en}}</ref> He is a member of the International Olympic Committee, a council member of the Association of International Winter Olympic Federations, and board member of the British Olympic Association.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=IOC presidential candidates pitch to Olympic voters in quirky closed-door event |url=https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympics-president-election-753da4cb52671a9ccbdda8957ea11b84 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life== Johan Eliasch was born in February 1962,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/xF61hU4hXQzq3a8ywcYZAUMRNt4/appointments |title=Johan ELIASCH - Personal Appointments |publisher=Companies House |accessdate=13 May 2017}}</ref> in Djursholm, Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|first=Caspar|last=Opitz |url=https://www.dn.se/ekonomi/svensk-raddar-skog-for-100-miljoner/ |title=Svensk räddar skog för 100 miljoner |publisher=Dagens Nyheter |date=10 May 2006 |access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> His grandfather, G. A. Svensson, was a leading Swedish industrialist.<ref name="forbes2000">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2000/0320/0306032a.html|title=Head's up|last=Wherry|first=Rob|date=20 March 2000|newspaper=Forbes|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> He graduated in Stockholm with a Master of Science from the Royal Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stockholm University. Eliasch served in a specialist unit at the Life-Guard Dragoons, Military Police, K1, Stockholm, Sweden (1980–81).<ref name="cps">{{cite web |url=https://cps.org.uk/speakers/johan-eliasch/ |title=Johan Eliasch |publisher=Centre for Policy Research |website=cps.org.uk |access-date=1 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="ForestGuardian">{{Cite news |title=Big Tory donor quits citing party's move to the right |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/03/uk.topstories3 |last1=Taylor |first1=Matthew |date=2 September 2007 |access-date=21 June 2023 |work=The Guardian |last2=White |first2=Michael}}</ref> Eliasch was an active athlete, competing in skiing, golf, tennis, curling, sailing, football, ice hockey and motor racing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-28 |title=Eliasch promises climate for change if elected IOC president |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250128-eliasch-promises-climate-for-change-if-elected-ioc-president |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=IOC hopeful Eliasch, and sports evolution |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1151523/ioc-hopeful-eliasch-sports-evolution}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Lisa J. |date=1998-11-17 |title=HTM Chief Combines Business With Pleasure |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-17-fi-43542-story.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== Eliasch began his career in company turnarounds in 1985, when he joined Tufton Group, the London-based investment firm.<ref name="forbes2000"/> In 1991, he established his own private investment group, Equity Partners.<ref name="forbes2000" />
When Head Tyrolia Mares was up for auction in 1995, Eliasch spotted an opportunity. The beleaguered sporting goods company was $370million in debt, but through financial restructuring, acquisitions and investment in new technology, Eliasch turned the company, renamed Head, into a global success story serving as CEO from 1995 to 2021.<ref name="forbes2000" /><ref name="insidethegames">{{cite news |last1=Houston |first1=Michael |title=New FIS President Eliasch steps down as chief executive of HEAD |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109041/fis-president-johan-eliasch-head |access-date=8 July 2021 |work=insidethegames.biz |date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0000unse_c8r0 |title=International Directory of Company Histories |publisher=St. James Press |year=2003 |editor-last=Grant |editor-first=Tina |volume=55}}</ref>
Eliasch has also acted as non-executive chairman of Investcorp Europe (2010- 2014), non-executive director of IMG (2006–13), non-executive chairman and director of Starr Managing Agents (2008–2015), and chairman of Aman Resorts (2014–18).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rizzo |first=Lillian |date=14 March 2016 |title=Aman Resorts Owner Doronin Scores Legal Wins in Long-Running Dispute |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/aman-resorts-owner-doronin-scores-legal-wins-in-long-running-dispute-1457983693 |access-date=26 December 2016 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Johan Eliasch has been appointed Chairman at Aman Group |url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/appointment/79006536.html |website=Hospitality Net |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Johan Eliasch |url=https://www.olympics.com/ioc/mr-johan-eliasch |website=Olympics}}</ref> He is currently chairman of Equity Partners and London Films, as well as an advisory board member of Brasilinvest.<ref name="cps" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name="forbes2000" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=LONDON FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00556037/officers |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Srečanje s predsednikom Mednarodne smučarske zveze - 21. 2. 2023 (52702685951).jpg|thumb|174x174px|Eliasch with Slovenian prime minister Robert Golob in 2023.]]Eliasch has used his business experience to advise politicians and policymakers, including as a member of the International Business Advisory Councils for the Mayors of London, Jerusalem, and Rome.<ref name="cps" /><ref name=":1" />
== Sports administration == In June 2021, Eliasch was elected as president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) at the 52nd International Ski Congress, succeeding Gian-Franco Kasper, who had run the organisation for 23 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Johan Eliasch |url=https://www.fis-ski.com/en/inside-fis/organisation/fis-council/johan-eliasch |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=www.fis-ski.com |language=en}}</ref> Eliasch stepped down as CEO of Head after his election to avoid any conflict of interest.<ref name="insidethegames" /> At the 53rd International Ski Congress in May 2022, Eliasch ran unopposed and was re-elected as FIS president through 2026 winning 70 out of 100 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2022 |title=FIS prez aims to unite after bruising election win |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/skiing/story/_/id/33999753/fis-president-johan-eliasch-aims-unite-bruising-election-win |access-date=9 February 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 March 2023 |title=CAS appeal against FIS President's re-election withdrawn by protesting countries |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1134736/cas-appeal-fis-president-dropped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614091147/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1134736/cas-appeal-fis-president-dropped |archive-date=14 June 2024 |access-date=9 February 2025}}</ref> Eliasch is a member of the International Olympic Committee's Sustainability and Legacy Commission and President of the Marc Hodler Foundation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sankar |first=Vimal |date=2 September 2023 |title=Eliasch appointed to IOC's Sustainability and Legacy Commission |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1140453/eliasch-ioc-commission |work=Inside The Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodríguez |first=Pedro |title=SGI Europe's IOC election series: Johan Eliasch – The expatriate |url=https://www.sgieurope.com/community/sgi-europes-ioc-election-series-johan-eliasch-the-expatriate/113714.article |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Sporting Goods Intelligence |language=en}}</ref>
== Philanthropy == Eliasch has a longstanding interest in arts and culture, and is currently Chairman of the Saatchi Gallery in London, which since 1985 has presented contemporary art exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging artists.<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |date=4 April 2019 |title=Big Changes at Britain's Saatchi Gallery, as Visitor Numbers Slide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/04/arts/design/saachi-gallery-charity.html |accessdate=10 May 2019 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> He is also a patron of his alma mater, Stockholm University.<ref name=":3" />
Eliasch has been an advisory board member of the Shimon Peres Peace Centre, World Peace Foundation, the Centre for Social Justice, and the Kew Foundation, Royal Botanical Society.<ref name="cps" /><ref name=":1" />
He has credits in film production including Scarlet Pimpernel, Lady Chatterley, Best of Friends and Resort to Murder.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fries |first=Laura |date=1999-03-05 |title=The Scarlet Pimpernel |url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/reviews/the-scarlet-pimpernel-4-1200457071/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Tony |date=1992-10-16 |title=Masterpiece Theatre the Best of Friends |url=https://variety.com/1992/tv/reviews/masterpiece-theatre-the-best-of-friends-1200430799/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Johan Eliasch {{!}} Producer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253534/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Environmental causes== In 2005, Eliasch created the Rainforest Trust <!-- Do not link to Rainforest Trust, it is not the correct page--> , purchasing for preservation purposes a {{convert|400000|acre|km2|adj=on}} rainforest area in the heart of the Amazon rainforest near the Madeira River.<ref>{{cite news|first=Maurice|last=Chittenden|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2092492,00.html|title=It's my rainforest now. No logging|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=13 September 2006}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He then reportedly closed down the rainforest logging operations in that area in order to cut carbon emissions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2006 |title=The Man Who Bought a Forest |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/apr/04/partyfunding.environment |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, he co-founded Cool Earth, a charity he co-chairs, which invests in indigenous communities, sponsoring local NGOs to help improve skills and education, with the ultimate goal of protecting rainforest and reducing global emissions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Green campaigner and businessman who despaired of ineffective politics |first=Sean |last=O’Neill |work=The Times |date=7 September 2007 |page=T7 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2374043.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013160405/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2374043.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 October 2008 |accessdate=22 August 2009 }}</ref>
Under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Eliasch served as the Prime Minister's special representative for deforestation and clean energy.<ref name="IndependentMillionaire">{{Cite news |title=Johan Eliasch: A multimillionaire with a conscience |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/johan-eliasch-a-multimillionaire-with-a-conscience-401675.html |last=Russell |first=Ben |access-date=21 June 2023 |work=The Independent}}</ref> In 2007 he was commissioned by HM Government to undertake an independent review on the role of international finance mechanisms to preserve the global forests in tackling climate change, ''The Eliasch Review'', which was launched in October 2008, has served as a guideline for REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) as part of the international climate change convention.<ref name="REDD">{{Cite book |title=Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) |last=Hayden |first=Lisa |publisher=The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and Wildlife Conservation Society |year=2010 |location=Arlington, Virginia |language=English |url=https://www.nature.org/media/climatechange/redd-casebook-tnc-ci-wcs.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Business big shot |first=Lilly |last=Peel |work=The Times |date=16 October 2008 |page=T43 |id=Factiva T000000020081016e4ag0003r |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article4951432.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612174652/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article4951432.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2011 |accessdate=22 August 2009 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eliasch Review on International deforestation published {{!}} |url=https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/0/F963E3ED9DA8B697802574E20034597F?OpenDocument |website=www.wired-gov.net |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2008, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources began an investigation into a company acquired by Eliasch for alleged illegal deforestation prior to his ownership.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 June 2008 |title=Johan Eliasch, Gordon Brown consultant, fined for illegal Amazon logging |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2087169/Johan-Eliasch-Gordon-Brown-consultant-fined-for-illegal-Amazon-logging.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825145218/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2087169/Johan-Eliasch-Gordon-Brown-consultant-fined-for-illegal-Amazon-logging.html |archive-date=25 August 2012 |accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="DefinitelyPotuguese2">{{cite news |title=Ibama multa madeireira de milionário sueco em R$ 450 mi no Amazonas |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2008/06/409459-ibama-multa-madeireira-de-milionario-sueco-em-r-450-mi-no-amazonas.shtml |accessdate=20 April 2020 |work=Folha de S.Paulo |language=Portuguese}}</ref> The company responded that its logging "had been certified to have been done under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines since 2000."<ref>{{cite news |title=Em nota, madeireira Gethal nega práticas ilegais na Amazônia |url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultnot/2008/06/07/ult23u2473.jhtm |accessdate=20 April 2020 |work=Noticias UOL}}</ref> The investigation ended in 2013 with the conclusion that there was no basis for legal or administrative action.<ref name=":12">{{cite news |date=9 April 2020 |title=Fairness bei BLICK |url=https://www.blick.ch/sport/ski/in-eigener-sache-fairness-bei-blick-id15837528.html |accessdate=30 April 2020 |work=Blick |language=German}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cancellation of Fines by IBAMA - 2013 |url=https://false-media-reports-johan-eliasch-illegal-deforestation.com/ |access-date=9 February 2025 |website=False Media Reports on Deforestation Claims |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Eliasch is currently a director of the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, a non-profit, international organisation,<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=http://freefutures.org/free-team/board-of-director |accessdate=11 April 2015 |publisher=freefutures.org}}</ref> an advisory board member for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions, and Brasilinvest.<ref name="cps" /><ref>"The Brasilinvest Group, created in 1975 by the businessman Mario Garnero, is the first private development agency installed in Brazil (...)", [http://www.brasilinvest.com.br/english/historia.asp ''Brazilivest'']{{Dead link|date=February 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He is an advisory board member of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative <ref>{{Cite web |title=Advisory Board - Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative |url=https://www.schwarzeneggerclimateinitiative.com/about/advisory-board |website=www.schwarzeneggerclimateinitiative.com}}</ref> and previously served on the International Advisory Board of the Stockholm Resilience Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International advisory board |url=https://www.stockholmresilience.org/about-us/strategic-advisory-councils/international-advisory-board.html |website=www.stockholmresilience.org |language=en}}</ref>
He chaired the 2021–22 HM Treasury net zero review technology and innovation advisory group,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Johan Eliasch |url=https://www.weforum.org/people/johan-eliasch/ |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1026725/NZR_-_Final_Report_-_Published_version.pdf |title=Net Zero Review Analysis exploring the key issues |publisher=HM Treasury |year=2021 |isbn=9781911686316 |location=UK |pages=128}}</ref> RUSI's Food, Energy and Water security program, and was a member of the DEFRA Council for Sustainable Business.<ref name=":0" />
== Political activity == Starting in 1997, Eliasch served the Conservative Party in different roles, including as Deputy Treasurer and Advisor to the Leader, Shadow Foreign Secretary, and European Affairs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Michael |last2=Taylor |first2=Matthew |date=2 September 2007 |title=Big Tory donor quits citing party's move to the right |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/03/uk.topstories3 |access-date=9 February 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was appointed as a non-political special representative of Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown on deforestation and clean energy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2007 |title=A valuable collection of talents |url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/sep/07/avaluablecollectionoftalents |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ind07">{{Cite news |title=Johan Eliasch: Don't let politics prevent us from saving the planet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johan-eliasch-don-t-let-politics-prevent-us-from-saving-the-planet-5329243.html |access-date=21 June 2023 |work=The Independent}}</ref>
Eliasch was a member of the Austrian president's delegation of State for Trade and Industry (1996–2006). He was chairman of the Young Conservatives Party in Djursholm, Sweden, from 1979 to 1982.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Johan Eliasch Political activity |url=http://www.famous-people.net/Johan_Eliasch/Political_activity |website=www.famous-people.net}}</ref>
Eliasch met Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the 1990s and organised a charity tennis match between John McEnroe and Björn Borg in aid of the NSPCC at Buckingham Palace.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Swedish sports tycoon backs Tories with £1m |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/swedish-sports-tycoon-backs-tories-with-1m-976x9dh5xgn |last1=Hellen |first1=Nicholas |date=16 February 2003 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Times |last2=Ungoed-Thomas |first2=Jon}}</ref> He was a director along with the Duke of a company called Naples Gold.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Prince Andrew associate in line for skiing presidency |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/prince-andrew-associate-in-line-for-skiing-presidency-hsc9h00r9 |last=Ziegler |first=Martyn |date=7 March 2020 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04585973/officers |title=Naples Gold Limited |access-date=2 September 2023 }}</ref>
In 2006, Eliasch co-founded the Global Strategy Forum with the late Rt Hon Michael Ancram, the Marquess of Lothian,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Global Strategy Forum |url=https://www.globalstrategyforum.org/about/ |language=en-GB}}</ref> and became the foundation's first president.<ref name="GSFWebsite">{{cite web |title=Staff & Advisory Board member Biographies |url=http://www.globalstrategyforum.org/gsfbiography.asp |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607113248/http://www.globalstrategyforum.org/gsfbiography.asp |archivedate=7 June 2009 |accessdate=22 August 2009 |work=Global Strategy Forum}}</ref>
== Personal life == He was married to Amanda Eliasch, a photographer and filmmaker, from 1988 to 2006; they have two sons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 February 2009 |title=All Tamara's parties |url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/08/homes |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=the Guardian}}</ref> Their son Charles Eliasch is an opera singer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2013 |title=20-Year-Old Charles Eliasch Makes His Opera Debut at Carnegie Hall |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/20-year-old-charles-elias-opera-debut_b_2864227 |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0253534|name=Johan Eliasch}} *[http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/other/9780108507632/9780108507632.pdf Eliasch Review]
{{FIS presidents}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eliasch, Johan}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Swedish billionaires Category:Swedish businesspeople Category:Swedish environmentalists Category:Swedish film producers Category:British International Olympic Committee members Category:International Ski and Snowboard Federation executives Category:People from Danderyd Municipality