Hein Verbruggen

Hein Verbruggen studied at the NOIB Nijenrode Business School, graduating in 1964. He later worked in business starting with Carnation Belgium from 1964-68, then becoming product and sales manager at M&M/Mars from 1969-75. In 1975 Verbruggen set up his own business as a consultant, forming Business Consultants, a company he ran from 1975-2000.

In sports administration Verbruggen worked mostly in cycling, becoming a board member of the Fédération International du Cyclisme Professionnel (FICP) from 1979-82. He eventually became President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 1991, after serving as FICP President from 1984, and was responsible for merging the FICP and the FIAC (Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme) into the UCI. Verbruggen was also President of SportAccord from 2007-13. His later tenure as UCI President was marked by controversy related to doping scandals, and allegations that the UCI covered up positive tests by Lance Armstrong. Verbruggen was awarded the Olympic Order in 2010. He was made an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2005.