U.S. BIATHLON LEADER MAX COBB TO HEAD INTERNATIONAL BIATHLON UNION

NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine (Aug. 30, 2022) – U.S. Biathlon President and CEO Max Cobb has been named by the International Biathlon Union as its new secretary general. The highly-respected biathlon leader will be leaving U.S. Biathlon this fall to take the helm of the international sports federation based in Salzburg, Austria.

“I’m deeply honored to be selected for this role,” said Cobb, who was attending the IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany. “It is a bittersweet moment for me leaving U.S. Biathlon. But I feel confident that the programs our board and staff have built over the past years will allow for a smooth transition. And it will always be a part of me.”

A collegiate skier and biathlon club athlete during his time at Dartmouth College, Cobb joined U.S. Biathlon in 1989 to run a domestic race series. A year later he was named assistant coach and manager of the national team. He took over as program director in 1994 and became executive director in 2006. 

In his tenure, he became a highly respected sport leader, chairing the IBU Technical Committee before being elected on the executive board of the IBU in 2016.  Cobb also chaired the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s National Governing Body Council that comprises all the summer and winter Olympic and Paralympic sport organizations in the USA.

“Max has led U.S. Biathlon to the highest levels of international success and greatly advanced the sport in America,” said board co-chair Bob Hall. “His engaging personality has helped him forge partnerships that benefited the sport in America.” 

“Athletes around the world have benefited from Max’s caring handling of sport issues globally,” said board co-chair Bill Alfond. “He has been an ardent advocate for fairplay and clean sport. He will serve the IBU and our sport of biathlon well.”

In his secretary general role with the IBU, Cobb will oversee the sport administration globally, interfacing with more than 50 national biathlon associations, competition organizing committees, and with the International Olympic Committee. The IBU, which was formed in 1993, has dramatically grown the popularity of the sport with fans through its innovative approach to events, broadcast and marketing. Biathlon has become one of the most important sports at the Olympics, with 11 events. 

Cobb will transition into his new role with the IBU this fall, moving to Salzburg. The U.S. Biathlon board is undertaking steps to search for a new leader, with Cobb fully committed to the transition. Athletic programs for the coming season are well underway with leadership from high performance director Lowell Bailey and athletes development director Tim Burke.