Jan Henric Buettner

I am an international entrepreneur, investor, sports innovator and philanthropist with more than three decades of experience building global organizations, raising investment capital, creating strategic partnerships and leading complex international businesses.

Throughout my career I have founded and developed companies in the fields of telecommunications, internet technology, venture capital, luxury hospitality and sports, including helping to establish AOL Europe, founding BV Capital (now Headline Ventures), and creating the award-winning WEISSENHAUS Private Nature Luxury Resort.

In recent years I have focused increasingly on chess. As co-founder of Freestyle Chess alongside Magnus Carlsen, I have demonstrated an ability to attract significant commercial investment, global media attention and new audiences to the game while working closely with the world’s leading players, organizers, sponsors and broadcasters.

My experience in building sustainable business models, securing sponsorship, organizing world-class events and developing long-term strategic partnerships provides skills that are directly relevant to the future growth of FIDE.

Throughout my professional career, I have worked internationally across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia, building relationships with business leaders, governments, investors and sporting organizations. My leadership style emphasizes listening, partnership, transparency and long-term value creation.

As a candidate for FIDE President, I seek to apply this experience to strengthen FIDE’s member federations, expand participation in chess worldwide, professionalize the federation’s commercial activities, increase revenues through sponsorship and media, and ensure that the benefits of this growth are shared equitably among all member federations.

I believe that FIDE’s greatest responsibility is to serve its 203 member federations. My vision is of a stronger, more transparent and financially sustainable federation that creates more opportunities for players, organizers, arbiters, coaches and national federations alike, while growing the global chess ecosystem through innovation, education, technology and responsible governance.

Malcolm Pein

I have uniquely broad ranging experience as over 40 years as a player, coach, journalist, author, entrepreneur, tournament organiser, charity founder and chess administrator. I founded a

national charity that delivers chess to schools, prisons and social projects on a scale rarely achieved globally. I am best known as the organiser of the London Chess Classic, one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments and have been England’s delegate to FIDE and the English Chess Federation’s Director of International chess for nearly ten years as well as a Vice President of the European Chess Union. As a result, I have developed longstanding relationships across the chess community with players, federations, organisers, politicians and sponsors.