Executive Transactions

Jessey Forms Own Company

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Michael Smith reports Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) VP/Sales & Marketing DAVID JESSEY has left the racing team to create his own company, Jessey Sports. Jessey will partner with Fishbait Marketing, and will serve as a sales agent for RPM Minority Owner RAY EVERNHAM, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Football Coaches Association. Jessey Sports will operate out of Evernham's race HQs in Mooresville, North Carolina (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/2 issue).

BALANCING THE BOOKS: In this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Terry Lefton reports MasterCard Senior VP/Global Sponsorship DEBBIE HUGHES has accepted a buyout from the company after 18 years as part of a "reshuffling within MasterCard's marketing department." MasterCard VP/Sponsorships MICHAEL ROBICHAUD will assume Hughes' duties, which include UEFA Champions League soccer and the Rugby World Cup. As a result, former MasterCard Global VP ROB STEEGER will take over Robichaud's handling of the company's "domestic sports properties" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/2 issue).

EXECS: F1 team McLaren CEO MARTIN WHITMARSH yesterday assumed the role of Principal, replacing RON DENNIS, who will continue to serve as Exec Chair (REUTERS, 3/1)....California Horse Racing Board Vice Chair JOHN HARRIS has been elected Chair, replacing RICHARD SHAPIRO, who resigned (LATIMES.com, 2/26)....Leader Enterprises Inc. has hired brand development firm RiechesBaird VP/Digital Strategy JOHN CAPANO as VP/Digital (Leader)....The Triple-A PCL Nashville Sounds have named PCL exec GEORGE KING GM, replacing GLENN YAEGER (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/27)....The Browns have hired former Jets assistant ERIN O'BRIEN as Dir of Team Operations, where she will be charged with the team's travel arrangements (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/1).

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