Over the last nine years, Leafe has worked as GB Taekwondo’s head of events and successfully delivered multiple World Grand Prix events, a European Championships and a Para-World Championships.

Most recently, he led a team of staff and volunteers to host the World Championships in Manchester in May.

Leafe is said to bring extensive business, governance and specific taekwondo management knowledge and experience to British Taekwondo.

It is claimed his roots in the martial art and sport - as an athlete, a club coach with more than 30 years experience and an international referee - will provide an insight and vital perspective on the day-to-day experiences, challenges and opportunities for club instructors, committee leads and members.

"My drive has always been to create benefits and opportunities for taekwondo people, giving them access to things we never had or dreamed of, such as delivering a World Championships on home soil, something we never thought possible," Leafe, who has started his new role, said.

"Of course, we couldn’t have done it without great support from partners, particularly Manchester and UK Sport, and a dedicated group of taekwondo-loving people. 

"When people work together - great things can happen.

"I’m sad to be leaving GB Taekwondo, but equally I am excited and prepared to take on the challenges and opportunities that face British Taekwondo. 

"I want to help to create a world leading Member National Association. 

"I want to listen, collaborate and support the thousands of passionate taekwondo instructors, coaches, referees and competitors who work so hard week after week, and with the new Board’s direction, create the right, fair and transparent structures, events and support tools to really grow taekwondo across all disciplines of our great art and sport. 

"My approach will be to encourage, share ideas, help clubs to thrive and to retain and grow members where relevant. 

"I believe that recognising and rewarding people is what it’s all about."

Commenting on Leafe's appointment, GB Taekwondo chief executive Matt Archibald added: "We are delighted that Ian’s significant contribution to taekwondo has been recognised with this exciting appointment. 

"During his time with GB Taekwondo Ian has helped establish our international reputation as a leading taekwondo event host, culminating in the stunning delivery of the World Championships in Manchester in 2019. 

"Julia Newton [chair] Gary Hall [performance director], and I are very much looking forward to working with Ian in his new role at British Taekwondo. 

"Well done, many thanks, and good luck in the new role Ian."

Among the other appointments made by British Taekwondo is Eamonn O’Rourke as independent chair.

O'Rourke has more than 40 years experience in the sport and leisure industry, including as head of the community and cultural services department at Manchester City Council, where he was part of the senior leadership team that created the sports facility and sports development strategic plan for Manchester that resulted in the Commonwealth Games coming to the city in 2002.

Helen Martin and Matthew Barnes both join the Board as independent non-executive directors for finance and legal, respectively.

Martin is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience at a senior financial level, predominantly in the funded-sport sector.

Barnes, meanwhile, has more than 15 years experience working as a solicitor in the field of sports law in both in-house and in private practice.

Also recently joining the British Taekwondo staff were Emily Moore as the new membership services officer and Karen Welsh as office finance and admin officer on a part-time basis. 

Moore has held a number of customer service roles and has welfare and sporting experience having worked at a sports academy, while Welsh has almost 30 years experience in various roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland, including helping small and medium-sized businesses.

"I would like to thank the Board and staff for all the effort that went into the process to ensure that things were done thoroughly and professionally," Jonny Cowan, who had served as interim chair of British Taekwondo since November and is an independent non-executive director, said.

"This provided the platform to receive over 240 applications for six posts, to achieve a very strong short-list for interviewing, and to appoint high-calibre people.

"The resultant team will enable the organisation to run as an effective governing body and sporting business that will engage its membership with great support, products and services, will support clubs and instructors, and help participants, volunteers and the whole taekwondo family to enjoy the martial art.

"Crucial in the recruitment of Board members was that Sport England Governance Code guidance was followed, including having an independent chair and independent non-executive directors to again be independent, to complement the taekwondo non-executive directors, and to provide business skills not yet represented within the Board.

"The Board has ambitious and immediate plans for the summer and look forward to presenting progress and talking with the members at the AGM (Annual General Meeting), as well as meeting the members and families at the national championships amongst other activities in the coming months.

"It has been a pleasure to be interim chair since the AGM last November, working with the Board and staff over the last seven months, and a real privilege to see the momentum over recent weeks with the new team members joining the organisation."