Dave Brailsford has been named sports director at Ineos. The veteran team manager will oversee operations for a variety of sports, not just cycling.

Ineos Grenadiers revealed the news on Friday afternoon, announcing that in addition to his new role, Brailsford will also continue to serve as team representative for the World Tour Cycling Team.

There had been speculation earlier this year that Brailsford would step down from Ineos Grenadiers (formerly Team Sky) after 12 years at the helm. Rod Ellingworth returned to the team last year and expanded his role as deputy, but Brailsford will remain at the helm.

Ineos is a multinational conglomerate of chemicals, fuels, and plastics, but in recent years it has expanded into sports team ownership and sponsorship, from its cycling business to owning the OGC Nice soccer team and Ineos Britannia sailing team, Mercedes AMG a one-third stake in a Formula 1 team, and a performance partnership with the New Zealand rugby team.

According to the team's press release, Brailsford's new role will be to oversee the entire Ineos sports organization and help develop cross-team collaboration and information sharing.

"With all the great talent on different teams, there is no more exciting place to be in global sports than at Ineos.

"I am delighted to have this new opportunity to work with the other team leaders to explore how we can leverage these talents and develop a broader performance framework in partnership. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to learning a lot from each of them and their teams and considering ways to implement their ideas more broadly across the Ineos Sports family"

. [This culture and approach is at the heart of the business that has made Ineos so successful.

Brailsford's move to his new position was reported by the Italian website Tuttobiciweb in September, but Ineos Grenadiers described the report as "speculation." He is not relinquishing his role at Ineos Grenadiers, as the report suggested, and will continue to work with race director Rod Ellingworth on the team.

"The goal now is to replicate this model throughout the sport of Ineos," he said, adding, "Alongside this new role, I will continue to lead the Ineos Grenadiers with Rod Ellingworth as my second in command. We are already deep into planning for 2022 and will give it our all for the upcoming season."

In an internal team message seen by Cyclingnews after the Tuttobiciweb report, Brailsford denied the idea of leaving the team.

"I am not in the habit of commenting on media speculation, but I wanted to let you all know that contrary to the Italian reports overnight, I have no intention of leaving the team," he wrote.

The 57-year-old, who underwent surgery earlier this year for heart problems and is also surviving prostate cancer in 2019, told The Guardian in July that he would step away from his role in the team if further health issues arose.

"If there are further health issues, I won't be able to continue. That's clear," he said after the Tour de France.

"I'm trying to take care of myself, but I'm here to help others, to lead and support others. If the time comes to try to support myself more, then it's time to get out."