Bahrain International Circuit has announced that Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, formerly Director of PR and Governmental Affairs, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.

BIC Chairman, Talal Al Zain, stated: "Shaikh Salman has been a tremendous asset to everyone involved with the circuit and the events that take place here in his role as Director of PR and Governmental Affairs. His management skills have delivered enormous results in the last four years and really put Bahrain at the forefront of communication in Formula One and international motor sport."

The new role, working together with Martin Whitaker as Chief Executive Officer, is aimed at increasing the many emerging business opportunities that are open to BIC's management as the BIC enters a new and exciting era of motorsport, business and leisure activities.

Martin Whitaker said: "Everyone who visits the BIC knows the positive influence that Shaikh Salman has brought to his role as a director: the teams, the media, our customers and most of all the public. A tremendous amount of the growth of the sport's popularity within the region and the community in the last four years can be directly attributed to Shaikh Salman and the team he has managed and this new role is great news for the Bahrain International Circuit's future."