Malaysian Wushu Federation President MARTIN LIM "will quit at the end of the month after taking the flak" for TAI CHEAU XUEN becoming the country's first Asian Games medalist to be caught doping. Lim, who took charge of the martial arts organization in '12, said that "he had no choice but to step down and would leave office on Oct. 30." Lim: "As the president of WFM, I take full responsibility. Whatever happened is beyond our expectations" (REUTERS, 10/14). ... NEBOJSA GUDELJ "became the third managerial casualty in the Dutch top flight this season when he was dismissed by struggling NAC Breda on Monday." Gudelj "had been in charge for almost two years." Youth team coach ERIC HELLEMONS "will take over as caretaker coach" (REUTERS, 10/13). ... Belarus national football team coach GEORGY KONDRATYEV “has left his position.” His contract was “terminated by mutual consent” (REUTERS, 10/13). ... WWE on Tuesday announced the appointment of LOU SCHWARTZ as chief digital officer. Schwartz, who previously held exec positions at UUX, Piksel and Multicast, will “report directly” to WWE Chairman & CEO VINCE MCMAHON. His “primary focus will be on expanding WWE’s digital and social media presence and profitability.” In addition, Schwartz will “oversee product development and operations for WWE Network” (WWE). ... Commonwealth Games England named former Professional Squash Association CEO RICHARD GRAHAM its interim CEO. Graham succeeds ADAM PAKER, who will become the CEO of the Amateur Swimming Association in November (Commonwealth Games England).
JAPANESE BASEBALL: Nippon Professional Baseball side Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles said Tuesday that it "will appoint" HIROMOTO OKUBO as new manager of the Pacific League club. Okubo "will move up from his role as farm team manager." He will succeed SENICHI HOSHINO, who last month announced that "he would resign at the end of this season." Okubo "became the Eagles batting coach in 2012 and took over as the farm team’s manager last year" (KYODO, 10/14). ... Bench coach KOICHI OGATA will take over as Hiroshima Carp manager "after accepting an offer to replace" KENJIRO NOMURA. Nomura announced last week that "he would step down after the post season" (KYODO, 10/14). ... Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Manager KOJI AKIYAMA, "who guided the club to its first Pacific League championship in three years, announced Tuesday that he will step down from his post at the end of the season." Akiyama said, "I have been a farm team coach, a top team coach and a manager going into my 10th year now. For me it is the end of one chapter." Akiyama "is in the final year of a six-year contract, but the club had plans for him to continue" (KYODO, 10/14).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
