The members of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) have elected former Dutch ambassador Henk Swarttouw its new President.

“I will be proud to be leading the world’s most influential cycling advocacy organisation and to be working with our members and partners towards more and better cycling for all”, he said after ECF members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 23 April 2021 overwhelmingly voted in favour of his candidacy. “The COVID-19 pandemic and the current climate crisis have proven that this is the moment for cycling to give a boost to liveable cities, sustainable mobility and healthy lifestyles”.

Henk Swarttouw is a passionate cycling advocate. A former career diplomat, he served in the Dutch foreign service for over 30 years, including as his country’s ambassador to Finland and to Denmark, before becoming an independent advisor on sustainability and international cooperation. He has been cycling to school and to work for over 50 years and joined the ECF Board in 2019, where he helped oversee the transition in ECF’s leadership and put his international experience and diplomatic skills at the disposal of ECF and its members. In spring 2020, he became First Vice-President of ECF.

Henk succeeds Christophe Najdovski, Paris Deputy Mayor and ECF President since 2018, who decided not to run for re-election after the end of his three-year term. “Henk has been a strong, steadfast and very dynamic member of ECF’s Board ever since he joined. His diplomacy, his devotion to cycling and his willingness to speak out and engage in debates around active mobility and sustainability make him an excellent choice for the role of President”, Christophe said after Henk’s election.

At the AGM, ECF members also elected Francesco Baroncini, Sidsel Birk Hjuler, Judit Tóth and Sir Graham Watson, who join Lars Strömgren and Camille Thomé on the Board. ECF and its members thank Christophe Najdovski for his service to the cause of cycling, along with that of outgoing Board members Raluca Fiser, Luigi Passamonti, Damien Ó Tuama and Alessandro Tursi.​