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The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has appointed Michael Preston to the newly created position of Managing Director with immediate effect.

Preston will assume responsibility for the daily running of the organization, which has 52 members on five continents. His public relations company, Preston Consulting, will continue to provide communications consulting to IFAF.

The Managing Director position attracted more than 60 applicants from around the world and will encompass a wide range of functions to ensure the continued international growth of the sport.

The appointment will enable IFAF to establish a central office for the sport of American football and streamline communication between all IFAF members and coordinate activities across individual country federations. The Managing Director position reports directly to the IFAF President and the IFAF Executive Committee.

"We are delighted to have appointed someone who has a great understanding of our sport on an international scale and who is highly regarded within the American football community," said IFAF President TOMMY WIKING. "Michael has made great strides on the public relations front with IFAF and we believe that applying his abilities to the Managing Director role will help us move further forward."

Preston is a 42-year-old native of Birmingham, England, whose sports public relations company was established in Massachusetts in 2002. A former sports writer, he was the Assistant Director of Public Relations for NFL Europe in London from 1997 to 2002. Like many international fans of the game, he first discovered a love for American football when the sport came to prominence in the 1980s and became a fan of and press officer for the Birmingham Bulls of the British American Football Association.

"I am excited to help guide IFAF forward as we pursue our three key goals of participation, development and IOC recognition," said Preston. "During the past twelve months I have gained a true understanding of the challenges that lie ahead for IFAF and I am confident we can help our member federations make progress and also spread the appeal of American football to a wider audience."

Among his duties, Preston will assume responsibility for IFAF administration, oversee protocol, provide assistance to all IFAF committees and ensure IFAF maintains World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) compliance. As IFAF continues focus on game and player development, he will be responsible for overseeing training programs, liaising with the IFAF technical committee and implementing online courses and offline clinics. Preston is also coordinating the imminent launch of a new IFAF website.