Topps named JEREMY STRAUSER GM of Digital. Strauser, formerly with video game makers EA and Zynga, will lead Topps' online and mobile efforts, including its various digital trading card apps such as Topps BUNT. Topps VP/Digital MICHAEL BRAMLAGE will remain with the company and report to Strauser (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
COURT REPORT: Nets and Barclays Center Senior VP/Marketing ELISA PADILLA has been promoted to CMO, while Chief Strategy Officer/Suites & Ticket Sales BRIAN BASLOE has added the title of Exec VP. Barclays Center also named Dolphins VP/Sponsorships & Media BOB LYNCH Senior VP/Global Partnerships (THE DAILY)....The Trail Blazers announced a multiyear extension for GM NEIL OLSHEY, who also was named President of Basketball Operations (Blazers)....Wasserman Media Group named former Pistons Assistant GM GEORGE DAVID Dir of Basketball Operations (TWITTER.com, 1/8).
AROUND THE DIAMOND: The Dodgers named L.A. Universal Preschool Senior Dir of Public Affairs, Marketing & Communications NAOMI RODRIGUEZ Senior Dir of External Affairs & Community Relations (Dodgers)....The D-Backs announced a number of promotions, including KENNY FARELL to VP/Business Analytics, RAYME LOFGREN to Advertising Dir, PATRICK O'CONNELL to Senior Manager of Player & Media Relations, ANTHONY SYNEGAL to Group Sales Manager, DAREN HEATON to Education Initiatives Manager, JEFF CEDERBAUM to Video Production Manager and NOAH BERLIN to Game Operations & Entertainment Manager. The team also named JERRY ROMO Hispanic & Emerging Markets Manager (D-Backs).
EXECS: Fox Networks Group announced that President of Ad Sales LOU LATORRE is “leaving his post” after the company decided it is “cutting its ad sales staff” following the consolidation of broadcast and cable ad sales units. LaTorre, a 19-year Fox Cable veteran, decided to take a buyout and is “expected to seek a new job in the business.” He joined Fox in ’97 as FSN President of Sales and also was previously Turner Entertainment VP/Sales (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 1/8)....Octagon Brazil named AYKAN AZAR and MATTHIEU FENAERT co-Managing Dirs. Meanwhile, Octagon Brazil President ALEX LEITAO and Exec Managing Dir FRED POLLASTRI will join Orlando City SC for the MLS team's inaugural season in '15 (Octagon)....Private coaching company CoachUp named Princeton Review CFO & Chief Strategy Officer JOHN KELLEY CEO (THE DAILY)....The World Golf Foundation named PGA of America CEO PETE BEVACQUA Chair of its BOD for '15. Bevacqua succeeds PGA Tour Commissioner TIM FINCHEM (WGF)....Colorado State Univ. named Learfield Sports Rams Sports Properties GM BEN LORENZEN Senior Associate AD/Sales, Marketing & Communications (CSU)....Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute named LEE MCELROY JR. Interim AD, effective March 1. The school is conducting a national search for a permanent AD (RPI).
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