MotoGP Added Four Executives to Global Leadership Team
The racing series has appointed new chiefs to drive commercial, media, strategy, and operational growth.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in People
MotoGP has announced four new executive appointments to its leadership team, signaling a focused effort to expand the sport's global reach and deepen fan connections. These hires complete a series of management shifts that began earlier in 2026.
Why it matters
The expanded leadership team is tasked with driving global growth and opening new commercial opportunities for partners. The move reflects an intentional effort to scale the organization's business operations after a year of consistent staffing changes.
MotoGP added 4 new executive roles to its leadership team, supplementing changes that saw new appointments made earlier in 2026. The new team members bring extensive experience, including individuals with 20 years of sector experience and veteran backgrounds from F1 and UFC.
The players
Carmelo Ezpeleta
The CEO of MotoGP who is overseeing the current organizational expansion and leadership restructuring.
Louise Young
The newly appointed Chief Operating Officer who previously spent eight years managing race promotion at Formula 1.
Carlos Ezpeleta
The Deputy CEO of MotoGP promoted in August 2026 to help shape the future direction of the racing series.
Denitza Batchvarova
The new Chief Strategy Officer with 20 years of experience, including previous roles at UFC and TKO Group Holdings.
Ryan Norys
The new Chief Commercial Officer who arrives from a commercial leadership background at Tottenham Hotspur.
The details
The new executives, including Chief Commercial Officer Ryan Norys and Chief Operating Officer Louise Young, join CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta to refine the series' commercial and media strategy. This restructuring follows earlier organizational moves, including the May 2026 hiring of CFO Vince Russell and the August 2026 promotion of Carlos Ezpeleta to Deputy CEO. By integrating leadership talent from organizations like TKO Group Holdings and Tottenham Hotspur, the series aims to institutionalize its growth strategy.
Timeline
May 2026: Vince Russell joined as Chief Financial Officer.
August 2026: Carlos Ezpeleta was promoted to Deputy CEO.
September 2026: Denitza Batchvarova joined as Chief Strategy Officer.
September 23, 2026: MotoGP announced four executive appointments.
Market Landscape
This reorganization follows the 2026 MotoGP leadership restructuring, marking a transition toward a more diversified management team. The appointments align with a broader industry trend of scaling commercial operations by importing leadership from other major sports and entertainment properties.
Operators should monitor these leadership changes to understand shifts in the series' commercial partnership and media rights strategies. The new executive team's background suggests a focus on aggressive global expansion, which may impact how brands engage with the property.
The takeaway
Management transitions often signal upcoming changes in commercial strategy and partnership terms for service providers. Track the public statements of the new C-suite to identify the updated growth priorities for the next fiscal cycle.
Further reading
For more on industry hiring, visit our People section.
