The WSKA Congress elected Richard Poole as the new president of the World Shotokan Karate-do Association. Mr. Poole defeated John Hanratty the interim president. Mr. Hanratty has assumed the position of Vice President. The remaining positions ran unopposed. As of the 2009 congress the leadership of WSKA is:
President - Mr. Richard Poole
Vice President - Mr. John Hanratty
Director of Technical Matters - Mr. Ted Hedlund
Director of Africa - Mr. Malcom Dorfman
Director of Americas - Mr. John DiPasquale
Director of Europe - Mr. Richard Poole
Director of Administration - Mr. Bob Poynton
Director of Finance - Mr. Richard Poole
The board also recognized the service of Mr Dirk DeMits who has resigned from the Board of Directors. "Mr. DeMits has provided many years of outstanding service to WSKA" said Richard Poole. "We are very fortunate to have had worked with Dirk and we are appreciative of his agreement to assist with managing the finances of the organization going forward."