Meet the candidates: President, Vice President and Treasurer

The three key roles in the EHF Executive Committee are the President, Vice President and Treasurer.

There will be three new faces in these roles due to the retirement from the EHF of Jean Brihault, Arne Elovsson and Ralf Dejaco after many years of service.

Only one position will be contested by more than one candidate with Anrijs Brencans (LAT) and Predrag Boskovic (MNE) both having thrown their hats into the ring. 

Anrijs Brencans has also put his name forward as one of the three member positions in the Executive Committee.

The candidates for these positions present themselves below:

President: Michael Wiederer (AUT)

Question 1: Tell us about yourself, your professional background and experience in handball.

Handball has been a lifelong passion for me. I started my career as a player also competing for the Austrian national team. Following my playing career, I became Secretary General of the Austrian Handball Federation, gaining considerable experience in sports administration through the organisation of major events included the B World Championship in Austria in 1992.

With the foundation of the EHF in 1991, and the decision to locate the office in Vienna, I became the EHF's first member of staff as of 1 September 1992. We started from scratch in those early days, with just two telephones and two desks, and over the past 25 years I and many others have worked hard to build and develop the federation into the organisation we see today.

Question 2: What motivated you to stand for this position within the EHF Executive and why do you think you should be elected?

After more than 20 years as Secretary General of the EHF, I believe that I have the experience to continue to drive the improvement of our sport. The story of the EHF since 1991 is one of success and for me it is a great honour to be able to follow in the footsteps of the three previous EHF Presidents:Stefan Holmqvist, Tor Lian and of course Jean Brihault.

Question 3: If elected, what will you seek to achieve in your position, as part of the EHF Executive Committee and for handball?

The world is changing rapidly and we are constantly facing new challenges. It is our task to meet these challenges and develop both our sports-political and working structures to ensure that handball remains one of the leading indoor team sports. Key issues for us will be the rapidly changing media market, marketing of our competitions and activities as well as the development of the Men's EHF EURO with 24 teams from 2020.

Vice President: Anrijs Brencans (LAT)

Question 1: Tell us about yourself, your professional background and experience in handball.

I started playing handball in 1979 by simply participating as a junior level player during the times of Soviet Union. 

I retired from professional handball, priding myself in being the captain of the Latvian national handball team - having gained independence.

Those were beautiful times…. 

After hanging up my jersey - I worked as a sports functionary, as President of the Latvian Handball Federation, along with participating in countless European and International Handball Federation activities in different roles.

Regardless of the position, it has always been my goal to represent the small and mid-sized handball countries. Why? Because, in most cases, pro-sports and money takes priority over the development of handball in the small and mid-sized countries.

Question 2: What motivated you to stand for this position within the EHF Executive and why do you think you should be elected?

My extensive experience in managing handball business affairs across the Europe; in addition to my latest accomplishment in obtaining a master’s level degree in sport governance as well as the continuous encouragements from many influential top management people from handball countries of all sizes – which, altogether, makes me confident that I am able to share a combined knowledge and expertise to accelerate the development of handball.

Question 3: If elected, what will you seek to achieve in your position, as part of the EHF Executive Committee and for handball?

During the process of writing my master’s thesis on sport governance this year, I conducted detailed research with regard to handball development in small and mid-sized countries. The analysis of the research has opened my eyes to new perspectives, which are leading me to suggest that EHF Executive Committee must focus on specific project plans such as:

• Analysing the current development of EHF governance 
• Creating suggestions on how to accelerate and improve the development of EURO Championship hosting, and related themes
• Develop a new, long-term structure on how to support small and mid-sized handball countries

Vice President: Predrag Boskovic (MNE)

Question 1: Tell us about yourself, your professional background and experience in handball.

I am an economist by profession. I started my career as a teaching assistant at the University of Montenegro in 1996. In 1997 I got involved in politics and have held many leadership positions since then.

I got involved with Montenegrin handball in 2005 when I became a board member of WHC Buducnost. In December 2006 I became the club’s president. Since that day Buducnost have won two Champions League titles and one CWC cup. 

In 2011, I was elected President of the Montenegrin Handball Association and held this position until September 2016 when I stepped down because of my candidacy for the Vice President of the EHF. During this time the female national team won Olympic silver in London and European gold in Belgrade. 

Finally, I was elected to the EHF Executive Committee in June 2012.

Question 2: What motivated you to stand for this position within the EHF Executive and why do you think you should be elected?

During my term as an Exec member I realised that I could do more for European handball. I believe that the results I achieved with Montenegrin handball speak for my abilities and recommend me for the position I have applied for.

Question 3: If elected, what will you seek to achieve in your position, as part of the EHF Executive Committee and for handball?

If elected, my main goal would be to increase the popularity of handball in Europe. I am aware that this is not an easy proposition and that many actions should be implemented in order to achieve this goal. More popularity brings more fans and more sponsors. The key to achieving this goal is creating better conditions for competition, for clubs and national teams. 

I am ready to work hard and devote my life to handball and its development. No dream is too big if you have the right attitude and work ethic. 

Treasurer: Henrik la Cour (DEN)

Question 1: Tell us about yourself, your professional background and experience in handball.

My background and education is in business. I worked as an account executive at Danske Bank with responsibility for 120 employees and an annual revenue of 14 million Euro. In the past 10 years I have  worked as director in companies with a range of 100-600 employees (Compass Group – world’s largest facility company) and with revenue between 14-90 million Euro.  Presently I am an employee at ISS, a global company located in 124 countries, so I am used to working in an international business.

I started as a player in 1976 - a left handed goalkeeper and my refereeing career started in 1980. Since then I have refereed in 11 EHF European Championships and World Championships. I officiated in 32 major finals in total throughout my career. Today I am a delegate on a national and international level.

Question 2: What motivated you to stand for this position within the EHF Executive and why do you think you should be elected?

I have been in handball since I was 11 years old. I mostly worked in refereeing (I was a part of the TRC for the past six years with responsibility for young referees, with a main focus on realising the potential of young people and I have been an active part of DHFs tactical and strategic level).

In the last few years I have been more involved in political work and now my time has come to contribute to develop handball for the years to come. In my professional career I have worked with financial aspects over a period of 12 years also on a strategic level.

I promise that EHF in me will get a dedicated and devoted person, who will work loyally for the benefit of handball. I know that I am the only candidate, but I still hope for support from you and I guarantee to act in a fair and correct way in all aspects of my work.

Question 3: If elected, what will you seek to achieve in your position, as part of the EHF Executive Committee and for handball?

I hope to contribute to ensure that the EHF is as strong as possible to face the challenges of the future. My target is for the EHF to develop even further to become one of the most professional federations in sport throughout Europe.

I will guarantee to act and react loyally and with a dedication to achieving results and to moving the European Handball Federation to the next level. My competence is in building bridges in both political and sports issues, for large as well as smaller federations.