Quentin Simonet Elected New EEF President

All 40 member federations of the European Equestrian Federation present for the vote at the Extraordinary General Assembly in Frankfort.

A man speaking into a mic at a general assembly.

Quentin Simonet, new president of the European Equestrian Federation. (FEI / Richard Juilliart)

By: FEI Communications | May 22, 2025

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. quentin simonet elected new eef president by: fei communications |. the fei congratulates quentin simonet on his election as president of the european equestrian federation (eef), following a decisive vote at the organisation’s extraordinary general assembly held on 19 may 2025 in frankfurt (ger). all 40 member federations were represented at the assembly, where frenchman simonet secured the presidency in the second round of voting against fellow candidate george dimaras (gre). the election was held at the request of the eef’s member national federations following the resignation of theo ploegmakers, who stepped down for health reasons. advertisement scroll to continue with content simonet will serve the remaining 16 months of the term originally held by ploegmakers, concluding at the eef general assembly in 2026. this adjusted mandate, approved earlier in the assembly, is intended to bring the eef’s leadership cycle into alignment with that of the fei, reinforcing coordination and continuity within the wider governance structure. currently serving as the eef’s 2nd vice president, a role he has held since 2022, simonet brings more than 17 years of experience with the french national federation (ffe) and is well known in the community for his comprehensive knowledge of equestrian sport. a seasoned sports administrator, simonet has made significant contributions to the eef’s development initiatives as well as to the disciplines of endurance, driving, and jumping. he has also served as chef de mission at the olympic games and been a key advisor on international relations and institutional affairs within the organisation. simonet also serves as eef group deputy chair on the fei board, contributing valuable insight and ensuring continuity in european representation at the international level. “this is a pivotal role for the sport in europe, and quentin brings with him a wealth of experience and a well-rounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities affecting the equestrian world,” fei president ingmar de vos said following the announcement. “his election by the member federations reflects the trust and confidence in his ability to lead the eef at this important moment, and unify the voice of european equestrian sport on the global stage. “we would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of theo ploegmakers and interim president george dimaras, whose work has helped lay a strong foundation for the future. we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the eef under quentin’s guidance.”.

The FEI congratulates Quentin Simonet on his election as President of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF), following a decisive vote at the organisation’s Extraordinary General Assembly held on 19 May 2025 in Frankfurt (GER).

All 40 member federations were represented at the Assembly, where Frenchman Simonet secured the presidency in the second round of voting against fellow candidate George Dimaras (GRE).

The election was held at the request of the EEF’s member national federations following the resignation of Theo Ploegmakers, who stepped down for health reasons.

Scroll to continue with content

Simonet will serve the remaining 16 months of the term originally held by Ploegmakers, concluding at the EEF General Assembly in 2026. This adjusted mandate, approved earlier in the Assembly, is intended to bring the EEF’s leadership cycle into alignment with that of the FEI, reinforcing coordination and continuity within the wider governance structure.

Currently serving as the EEF’s 2nd Vice President, a role he has held since 2022, Simonet brings more than 17 years of experience with the French National Federation (FFE) and is well known in the community for his comprehensive knowledge of equestrian sport.

A seasoned sports administrator, Simonet has made significant contributions to the EEF’s development initiatives as well as to the disciplines of Endurance, Driving, and Jumping. He has also served as Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games and been a key advisor on international relations and institutional affairs within the organisation.

Simonet also serves as EEF Group Deputy Chair on the FEI Board, contributing valuable insight and ensuring continuity in European representation at the international level.

“This is a pivotal role for the sport in Europe, and Quentin brings with him a wealth of experience and a well-rounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities affecting the equestrian world,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said following the announcement.

“His election by the member federations reflects the trust and confidence in his ability to lead the EEF at this important moment, and unify the voice of European equestrian sport on the global stage.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Theo Ploegmakers and interim President George Dimaras, whose work has helped lay a strong foundation for the future. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the EEF under Quentin’s guidance.”