U.S. Speedskating last night named MIKE PLANT its new Chair. The Braves Exec VP/Business Operations and former USOC BOD member takes over the volunteer leadership of an NGB that has been plagued by scandal over the last year. Plant, a former Olympic speedskater, steps into an organization that has been reeling ever since a dozen speedskaters charged one of their coaches with physical and emotional abuse. Its finances have been challenged for years, and its most recent audited financial statement from last spring shows a deficit of $752,414 (Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer).
EXECS: Electronic Arts CEO JOHN RICCITIELLO will step down and no longer serve on the company's BOD, effective March 30. BOD Chair LARRY PROBST, who previously served as EA CEO from '91-'07, has been appointed Exec Chair (EA). Riccitiello said he was "accountable" for the company missing its operational targets (REUTERS, 3/18)....Delaware North Cos. promoted TD Garden Dir of Operations JASON BECKETT to VP/Operations (Delaware North)....The Thunder named Wasserman Media Group Senior VP/Team Sports JASON RANNE Dir of Strategic Planning (Thunder)....Electronics company Skullcandy named former Nike+Digital Sport GM HOBY DARLING President & CEO (SLTRIB.com, 3/18)....Tennis Channel named VIRGINIA HUNT Exec Dir of Programming. Hunt previously served as L.A.-based KCAL-TV and KCBS-TV Program Dir from '98-'10 (Tennis Channel)....USA Hockey named MATT HERR American Developmental Model Regional Manager (USA Hockey).
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