Vion will step into the post of secretary general with immediate effect and is the first person to be appointed with that job title since Sarah Lewis was removed from the post after 20 years in October.

Philippe Gueisbuhler was appointed as a replacement for Lewis in December, with his job title given as director.

Vion has served as President of the French Ski Association since June 2010 and as an FIS Council member since 2004.

He will step down from both of those roles in order to fully concentrate on his new post at the FIS.

Speaking about his appointment Vion said: "I am very honoured and humbled that the FIS Council had the confidence to appoint me as the new FIS secretary general.

"It is a very exciting time to take over this role as our President has many innovative, cutting-edge plans to ensure FIS will have a bright future."

Before moving into sports administration, Vion enjoyed a career as a ski racer at the highest level.

Vion was a world champion in the combined discipline at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Schladming, Austria in 1982 and also earned three World Cup podiums in his career.

Speaking about Vion’s appointment FIS President Johan Eliasch said: "Michel brings the perfect combination of leadership skills and expertise of our sport to the role of FIS secretary general.

"FIS is truly fortunate to have an individual of his calibre to come on board and lead the daily operations as we take the next steps into the future of FIS."

Other business during the virtual meeting included the appointments of Roman Kumpost, Aki Murasato, Dexter Paine and Peter Schroecksnadel as vice-presidents and Mats Arjes as treasurer.

The FIS Council approved holding a virtual Extraordinary Congress on September 22 2021 to address various changes to the FIS statutes.

Meanwhile. the FIS Council approved ten new committees and working groups although these will all need to be ratified at the next FIS Congress.