WPP-owned strategic communications firm Finsbury named former MLB Dir of Business PR JEFF HECKELMAN VP. Finsbury is expanding in the sports and entertainment space -- especially around crisis, corporate reputation and public policy issues -- following the addition of PETER LAND as a partner in '15. Clients include Toyota, Citi and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. Heckelman also had previous stints at Edelman and the USTA (Terry Lefton, Editor-At-Large).
OFF TRACK: NHRA Senior VP/Sales & Marketing GARY DARCY is resigning, effective in two weeks. The NHRA sent out a letter yesterday to track operators informing them of the news. NHRA VP/PR & Communications TERRY BLOUNT said that Darcy has chosen to pursue other business interests, and added that the NHRA was not yet sure whether it will fill Darcy’s role. The NHRA last month brought on another sales exec, BRAD GERBER, as VP/Sales & Chief Development Officer. Darcy has been with the NHRA since ’98 and had been in the current role since ’05 (Adam Stern, Staff Writer).
EXECS: USA Volleyball CEO DOUG BEAL will retire next January after serving as the NGB's top exec since '05. The USAV BOD will begin a search for Beal’s replacement shortly, with the hope of naming a successor shortly after the Rio Games (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer)....Coyotes Senior VP & Assistant GM DARCY REGIER is "leaving the team for personal reasons." He was hired in July '14 after 17 seasons as Sabres GM (AP, 2/2). Regier also was serving as AHL Springfield Falcons GM (AZCENTRAL.com, 2/2)....The NBA D-League Delaware 87ers promoted COO LARRY MELI to President (87ers)....The Dodgers named Baseball HOFer GREG MADDUX and former MLBer RAUL IBAÑEZ Special Assistants to President of Baseball Operations ANDREW FRIEDMAN (Dodgers)....The Houston Golf Association named Super Bowl LI Host Committee JOHN SORRENTINO VP/Business Development. He will help drive revenue and new partnerships for the PGA Tour Shell Houston Open (THE DAILY)....Sonoma Raceway named COURTNEY KISER Senior Manager of Marketing Communications and FARUK KUGAY Marketing & Events Manager (Sonoma Raceway).
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