Emmanuelle Bour-Poitrinal resigned on Monday as director general of France Galop only five months after succeeding Louis Romanet in the position.

France Galop chairman Edouard de Rothschild accepted the surprise resignation, Racing Post reported.

Bour-Poitrinal was the first woman in French racing history to occupy the position of director general, which is the senior executive role in the administration of French racing.

Bour-Poitrinal previously worked as a director at National Stud from 2002 until she took over the post of director general for France Galop in 2007. After working closely with her predecessor to help create a smooth transition, Bour-Poitrinal assumed Romanet’s duties on January 1, 2008.

“Neither I nor Edouard de Rothschild have any comment to make, but I am sad,” Bour-Poitrinal told Racing Post.