Executive Transactions

WME-IMG has rolled out an "initial set of hires in its China office focusing on entertainment, sports and live events." The agency brought on RICK YAN, "who most recently led digital distribution efforts in China at Paramount," to head its China film and entertainment division. JOE AUSTIN, a "veteran of the agency's film and television finance and distribution department, also is moving to the China office." DAVID HE, who "previously worked on bringing attractions like JUSTIN BIEBER concerts and the NBA China Games to China, will oversee the live-entertainment division." WME-IMG also brought on Nike Sports Marketing Dir BRUCE LI, who oversaw that brand's basketball division in China "during that sport's surge in popularity there," to lead basketball strategy in China (WSJ.com, 12/13).

EXECS: Chicago-based marketing and hospitality firm Intersport named former Fox Sports Senior VP/Sports Sales RICK KLOIBER Senior VP/Strategic Solutions (THE DAILY)....SMI-owned Performance Racing Network promoted VP/Sales GERRY HORN to Senior VP/Sales (SMI)....Big Ten Network promoted VP/Programming & Digital Media MICHAEL CALDERON to Senior VP/Programming & Digital Media and Senior Coordinating Producer QUENTIN CARTER to VP/Studio Production (THE DAILY)....The Indians promoted ERIC BINDER to Dir of Baseball Operations, PAUL GILLISPIE to Senior Dir of Int'l Scouting and VICTOR WANG to Dir of Pro Scouting. The club also named Pirates Special Assistant JAMES HARRIS Dir of Player Development (Indians)....Expansion MLS club LAFC named San Diego State Media Relations & Sports Information Assistant JAIME KELM Manager of Corporate Partnership Strategy (THE DAILY)....MLS named Ralph Lauren Marketing Manager STEPHANIE DI MARI Senior Manager of Retail Development (THE DAILY).

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