Former Federal Sports Minister Mark Arbib has been elected unanimously as the new president of Athletics Australia.
Arbib was elected onto the Athletics Australia board yesterday and was immediately installed as president by the new board. 
Former president David Grace and vice-presidents Matt Mahon and Nick Moore all stood down yesterday after reaching the nine-year limit for directors to serve on the board.
Despite not having served on the athletics board before, Arbib was the outstanding candidate to take the reins of the sport.
He brings knowledge of both Australia's high-performance system and the grassroots of the sport.
Since resigning from Federal Parliament in 2012, Arbib has been in demand as a director of sporting organisations.
He conducted a governance review for the Australian Rugby Union in 2012 and was briefly on the board of Swimming Australia.
He remains on the board of the South Sydney rugby league club and Sydney FC soccer club.
He has a personal connection to athletics as a regular runner who competes in marathons and road races, and as a father of a daughter who competes in athletics.
"Athletics is a sport and way of life that I am deeply committed to," Arbib said.
"Running has helped me reach my personal and professional goals and I want to help give other Australians the opportunity to do the same.
"Athletics continues to be an important part of my family's life, through my own training and my daughter's participation in Little Athletics and our local athletics club.
"For me, the nexus between Athletics Australia and Little Athletics Australia is the most important pathway and relationship for the sport.
"And I will work tirelessly to ensure that both organisations have a strong partnership and grow strongly as one family, committed to common goals and shared ideals.
"Athletics Australia has undertaken many positive steps in recent times and with careful management and a visionary Board of Directors, the sport is on a pathway to even greater success.
"I am committed to a long-term association with athletics and look forward to assisting in delivering upon the sport's worthy goals of increasing participation and high performance success."He was one of three nominees for three vacant board positions and will join golf promoter Ben Sellenger and businessman Geoff Nicholson on the new board.