New era for ROCKWOOL Racing as Tanguy Cariou named team CEO

Cariou – who previously served as CEO of the Switzerland SailGP Team for four years, before leaving the role in May 2025 – joins the Danish team with a specific focus on performance-driven leadership and building a strong future for Danish sport, sailing and next generation of foiling talent.

“I’m honored and excited to lead the ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team, a project that is setting new standards in the sailing world with an ambitious and inspiring vision for Danish sport,” said Cariou. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with an already-competitive team full of top talent, and build a deep culture of success together, on and off the water.”

He added: “ROCKWOOL is one of the strongest partners not only in the Rolex SailGP Championship, but across the whole sailing world. Their commitment and long-term vision for this project are unmatched, and I am determined to deliver on that support as we move forward.”

A renowned leader of high-performance sport projects, Cariou previously competed at the pinnacle of the sport – representing France at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and undertaking three America’s Cup campaigns. He also holds two Masters degrees, in Management, and Sports Law and Economics.

“Tanguy knows this league inside out, and brings a wealth of experience in managing teams and creating a winning culture,” said ROCKWOOL Racing driver, Nicolai Sehested. “I speak for the whole team when I say that we’re very much looking forward to working closely with him.”

Cariou joins the team with immediate effect – taking up his duties ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth on 19-20 July – and will report to the team’s Founder, Mirella Vitale.

“Building a world-class sports team from scratch is never smooth sailing, but over the past five years we’ve created a broad and dynamic project that both ROCKWOOL and Denmark can be proud of,” said Vitale, ROCKWOOL’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communication and Public Affairs.

“As we look to the next chapter of our SailGP journey, Tanguy’s experience, vision and leadership in this role will be integral to unlocking the full potential of our team, and developing the next generation of Danish foiling talent. I’m genuinely excited for what’s to come.”

In Season 4, the Danish boat finished fourth in the Rolex SailGP Championship, narrowly missing out on the overall podium spots – but, after a challenging start to this year, it currently sits in eighth place in the 2025 Season.

“It’s been a tough campaign for the team so far, but adversity creates strength and opportunity, and today we have a fresh start together,” continued Cariou. “It takes years to build a competitiveness in SailGP, and you don’t lose that after just a few difficult events. This is a group with solid foundations, a strong sailing identity and real winning potential. I’m laser-focused on unlocking that potential and working closely with the whole team to reach the next level.”

Next up, the SailGP fleet returns to British shores for the first time in two years, with racing arriving in Portsmouth for the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on 19-20 July.