Liberty Media retains two Ecclestone era execs in pivotal F1 roles

The new management of Formula 1 under Liberty Media have appointed two of former CEO Bernie Ecclestone's most trusted executives in key positions, as the pieces of the new administration fall into place.

Ian Holmes has been appointed Global Head of Media rights, which is an important position as F1 transitions and broadens from the 'push' model of TV broadcast output to the 'pull' model of fans demanding content to their own devices and on new platforms.

Holmes has worked alongside Ecclestone for many years selling TV and media rights to the broadcasters. He joined F1 after the company he had been working for, Kirsch Media that owned 75% of F1 in the early 2000s, went bust.

He has had the opportunity to learn from Ecclestone at close quarters, but is young enough in his 40s to embrace the new world of digital, mobile and OTT platforms.

Kate Beavan has been appointed Global Director of Hospitality, Experiences and Packages. Fans will have noticed a significant amount of branding at the weekend in Melbourne advertising F1 Experiences, which are new ticket packages with a chance to engage more closely with the sport and its key figures.

A lawyer by training, she began her F1 career with Tom Walkinshaw's TWR operation when it ran the Arrows F1 team and is known in F1 for her extremely dry sense of humour.

She has overall responsibility for the F1 Paddock Club and last year launched the Business Suite and an App for guests to find each other and arrange meetings at the circuit.

The sport is changing quickly.