Tampa philanthropist and Sykes Enterprises Founder &
CEO JOHN SYKES has stepped down as Chair of Florida 2012.
Sykes, who has served as Chair since June '98, will be
replaced by SANDY MACKINNON. Sykes will continue to serve
on Florida 2012's BOD and Exec Committee (TAMPA TRIBUNE,
12/16). MacKinnon is former Chair of the Tampa Sports
Authority, while Sykes "is under tremendous pressure to
focus all his attention on the troubled" Sykes Enterprises
tech support company (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 12/16)....The
NFL Competition Committee added three new members -- Giants
Exec VP JOHN MARA; Panthers President MARK RICHARDSON; and
Ravens VP/Player Personnel OZZIE NEWSOME. Leaving the
committee were Bengals President MIKE BROWN and Cowboys
Owner JERRY JONES (N.Y. TIMES, 12/16)....Chiefs President &
CEO CARL PETERSON has agreed to a new five-year contract
(K.C. STAR, 12/17)....Nike named MARGO LOEBL as Global
VP/Finance, reporting directly to CFO DON BLAIR. Loebl
joined Nike earlier this month from GM (Nike)....FL-based
Grand-Am Racing named GREG OTTE as Dir of Marketing. Otte
comes to Grand-Am Racing from Disney Sports Attractions
where he was Manager of Sponsorship & Promotions for the
Double A Southern League Orlando Rays. Meanwhile, RICK
GOOLSBY has joined Grand-Am as Marketing Coordinator.
Goolsby worked for NASCAR and MRN Radio (Grand-Am Racing).
...The Charlotte Observer named MICHAEL PERSINGER as Exec
Sports Editor, replacing GARY SCHWAB, who became
Investigations & Projects Editor. Persinger has been with
the paper for the past 12 years (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/16).
