F1 Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial has named MARTY HUNT as director of operations. Hunt has 25 years of raceway operations experience. Hunt recently served as Circuit of the Americas director of facilities. He joins an established team that recently welcomed motorsports leader CHRISTOPHER POOK. Other exec team members include YES Network Founding Chair & CEO LEO HINDERY, JR., sports and entertainment veteran DENNIS ROBINSON and sports marketing and corporate development exec DICK GOLDSCHMIDT (Grand Prix of America). ... Skate Canada has hired former Olympic swimmer DAN THOMPSON to be its CEO. Thompson was most recently the president of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, which is "dedicated to helping kids participate in sport and recreation" (CANADIAN PRESS, 6/4). ... IMG Golf has hired RUSSELL HANNAH as director of operations for IMG-managed golf clubs in the EMEA region (IMG).
FOOTBALL NAMES: Portugal FC Porto coach VITOR PEREIRA "has signed a two-year deal" to take charge of Saudi club Al-Ahli. Pereira, who helped Porto retain their Portuguese league crown after beating his arch-rivals Benfica in a riveting title race, "will take over from" Serbian ALEKSANDER ILIC (REUTERS, 6/9). ... La Liga club Celta Vigo has hired LUIS ENRIQUE to replace ABEL RESINO as coach for the next two seasons (AP, 6/8). ... La Liga club Levante has confirmed that JOAQUIN CAPARROS has been appointed head coach for next season. The 57-year-old will replace JUAN IGNACIO MARTINEZ, who "was not handed a new contract at the Ciutat de Valencia, and has joined on a one-year deal" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 6/9). ... League Championship Blackburn Rovers have announced that Operations Dir PAUL AGNEW "has left the club after 17 years." Much of last season "was dominated by reports of a boardroom struggle" between Agnew, Managing Dir DEREK SHAW and Global Advisor SHEBBY SINGH (BBC, 6/7).
