Claudiu Chimoiu has become the IJF's new events director having worked at the organisation for 13 years ©IJF

Claudiu Chimoiu has been appointed as the new events director for the International Judo Federation (IJF) following Lisa Allan’s election as the organisation’s secretary general.

Allan had held the role for six years before being elected to her new position at the IJF Congress staged here last week.

The IJF has now announced that Chimoiu will succeed Allan having worked at the worldwide governing body for 13 years.

During his time at the IJF, the Romanian official has been part of the organisation’s television team and in recent years held the position as event producer.

Chimoiu worked at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games and was the judo venue producer at Tokyo 2020 on behalf of the Organising Committee.

Before joining the IJF, Chimoiu spent 15 years in the television, production and broadcasting sector which saw him work on several sporting events.

Speaking at the World Judo Championships in Qatari capital Doha, Chimoiu said he was delighted to be part of a television team that had taken the coverage of judo to a "new level".

"It was a challenge at the beginning when [IJF director general] Vlad Marinescu brought me to the team, but along with the IJF team, we grew together," said Chimoiu.

"I remember, at the beginning, a World Championships would be filmed with eight cameras.

"Here we have 28.

"That is a good indicator of the evolution.

Claudiu Chimoiu, left, takes over from Lisa Allan, right, who has recently been elected as the IJF's new secretary general ©IJF
Claudiu Chimoiu, left, takes over from Lisa Allan, right, who has recently been elected as the IJF's new secretary general ©IJF

"We had some inconsistency with our TV graphics but now we have a state-of-the-art package.

"We are at the same level as the big TV sports.

"When I started we were a very small team and now we have a proper team that is travelling all over the world to help Local Organising Committees to deliver the best events.

"There is still room for improvement and I will work hard with the team to make it happen.

"For instance, we want to improve the morning coverage of the World Judo Tour events.

"Of course, as events director, I'll have to take care of all sectors. 

"I feel ready for it."

Allan, who has succeeded France's Jean-Luc Rougé as the IJF secretary general, believes judo will be in "good hands" with Chimoiu.

"We have been working together for more than 10 years," said the British official.

"It's also good to see that the IJF is able to keep this evolution inside.

"It shows that there is a pathway for everyone who works hard with professionalism.

"We all progress as a team.

"Claudiu is a good example of that."