European Aquatics has announced the departure of its chief executive officer Patrice Coste, who will leave the organization on August 15.
Coste, who took over in the head administrative role at the organization in late 2022, came to European Aquatics from UEFA, the European equivalent in soccer/football. There, he worked with broadcast sponsorship operations for 11 years. He previously worked in television production, mostly in soccer, in Europe and Africa. Coste is French.
While LEN did not reply to an email requesting more information about Coste’s departure, a source told SwimSwam that the decision was personal in nature and unrelated to job performance or any scandal.
“We would like to thank Patrice for his service to our organisation and wish him the best in his further career,” LEN said in a statement, crediting him for a “significant contribution” in developing a new strategy.
His responsibilities will be taken over by members of the Board of Directors and the Deputy Director Gianni Minervini of Italy. Minervini was a three-time Italian Olympic swimmer, racing at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Games. He was a two-time World Champion breaststroker who also won five European Championship medals, two Mediterranean Games titles, and two NCAA titles in the 100 breaststroke at UCLA.
Minervini, 57, was born in Italy, but moved to the United States when he was in high school. He wound up winning high school state titles at Naperville North High School in the suburbs of Chicago.
Minervini joined European Aquatics in 2015 as Financial Manager before being promoted to Executive Director in 2017. In 2022, when Coste was hired, Minervini moved into the deputy role. Prior to European Aquatics, he worked for 21 years at multi-national conglomerate Procter & Gamble and was the Associate Director of the Rome 2009 World Aquatics Championships Organizing Committee.
Coste’s time leading the organization saw dramatic shifts, including visibly with the rebrand from “LEN” to European Aquatics, and unveiling a new logo.
Dick Pound going to monopolize his services to more swimming governing bodies