Executive Transactions

In this week’s SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Terry Lefton reports Velocity Sports & Entertainment is hiring TRIP WHEELER as VP & GM of a new Charlotte office slated to open later this month. Velocity’s NASCAR clients include FedEx and ConAgra. Wheeler has spent the past six years in Radiate Group/GMR’s Charlotte office (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/15 issue). In a separate piece, Lefton reports Bank of America Senior VP & Strategic Marketing Exec ALLISON GARDINER is leaving the bank to join GMR’s Milwaukee office, where she will head the Miller Brewing account. In addition, JEN DARGA is leaving Velocity for Paragon Sports Marketing, where she will supervise the Intercontinental Hotels account. Also, CNN named NFL Senior Manager of Broadcast Research CHRIS RYAN Dir of Ad Sales Research. Meanwhile, SportsMark named CHRIS FOXTON Dir of Strategic Marketing (SBJ, 5/15 issue).

EXECS: Avalanche President & GM PIERRE LACROIX is stepping down as GM, but will remain President of the club (Avalanche). Lacroix said that he “decided that this would be his final season as GM during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.” Lacroix: “It’s time for me to be a grandpa and give my family more of the time they deserve” (DENVER POST, 5/13)....Michigan Int’l Speedway President W. BRETT SHELTON will step down following the ’06 racing season, and will be replaced by California Speedway VP/Marketing & Sales ROGER CURTIS (ISC)....Spike TV promoted VP/Sports & Specials BRIAN DIAMOND to Senior VP/Sports & Specials. Diamond will continue to oversee sports and specials development and production, and will add documentaries to his responsibilities (Spike TV).... Sprint Nextel named BASS/ESPN VP/Operations DEAN KESSEL Dir of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Marketing (Sprint Nextel).

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