Göran Petersson

Göran Petersson became interested in sailing in his youth and became Swedish Champion in the 505 Class in 1965. His education was at the Commercial Institute of Göteburg, and he earned a law degree from Lund University in 1967. Petersson served as a district court judge from 1971-73 and then was a senior partner (1976-2008) and chair / CEO of Advokatfirman Vinge from 1988-92.

After 1982 Petersson had multiple business ventures, serving as chair of an engineering company from 1982-2009. He led a boat building company in 1992 and a real estate construction company in 2004. In 2000 he was secretary-general of the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre and in 2002 he was chair of the advisory board of a commercial bank (2002).

In 1977 Petersson began working with the Swedish Yacht Racing Committee and on the international racing rules committee in 1990. He was elected vice-president of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU, from 1996 International Sailing Federation/ISAF and since 2015 World Sailing) in 1994. In 2004 he was named President of the IYRU, holding that position until 2012.

Petersson was named to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2009 in his role as President of the then ISAF. He stayed on the IOC through 2012, when his Presidency of ISAF ended. He was also a Council member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).