The FA said that SUE CAMPBELL's appointment as its new head of women's football is a "massive statement." FA Dir of Participation & Development KELLY SIMMONS called Campbell "one of the most influential people in British sport." Campbell, who will start her new role in March, is "also chair of the Youth Sport Trust and was awarded a CBE for her services to sport in 2003" (BBC, 1/14). ... McLaren "announced the signing" of JOST CAPITO from Volkswagen Motorsport as its new CEO. Capito replaces JONATHAN NEALE in a "reshuffle at the British constructor, with the latter losing his spot on the racing team." Neale, who had been the team's acting CEO for the past two seasons, has been appointed CEO of the McLaren Technology Group with ERIC BOULLIER, who signed from Lotus in '14, "remaining as the team's racing director." RON DENNIS stays on as both the team's exec chair and CEO of the McLaren Group "with Capito and Boullier reporting to him" (London GUARDIAN, 1/14). Capito will continue to perform the duties of motorsport director until his successor at Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH is appointed (Volkswagen). ... Bookmaker William Hill "has overhauled the management of its online business." CRISPIN NIEBOER, who previously led the company's Shoreditch-based innovation team, "will replace ANDREW LEE, head of its online operations, as interim managing director." The bookmaker also appointed KEVIN O'CONNOR, a former chief information officer at rival Paddy Power, "as its new chief information officer." The changes come as Britain's biggest bookmaker "tries to keep its lead in the industry amid a series of mergers among its rivals" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 1/14).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Serie A side AS Roma appointed former coach LUCIANO SPALLETTI as successor to RUDI GARCIA, "who was sacked on Wednesday." Spalletti, 56, coached Roma from '05-09, twice winning the Coppa Italia, "before he resigned and joined Russian club Zenit St. Petersbug (BBC, 1/14). ... French Pro A basketball side CSP Limoges, current champion of France, announced DUSKO VUJOSEVIC as the successor of head coach PHILIPPE HERVÉ, who was released by the club at the beginning of January (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/13). ... Championship "strugglers" Charlton Athletic reappointed JOSE RIGA as head coach on an 18-month deal. The 58-year-old spent three months in charge of the Addicks at the end of the '13-14 campaign, "keeping the club in the Championship." Riga replaces KAREL FRAEYE, who "was sacked from his post as interim head coach on Wednesday" (BBC, 1/14).
ASTON VILLA: Premier League side Aston Villa Owner RANDY LERNER will "take a back seat in the running of the club" after announcing the appointment of STEVE HOLLIS as chair. Lerner confirmed Hollis, a former deputy chair of Birmingham Metropolitan College, "as his replacement at Villa Park." Lerner "had promised to step down" as chair last May if he failed to sell the club. In a statement, he said, "Regarding my future with Villa, I expect to remain engaged with both Steve and Tom [Fox, CEO] although at a somewhat further distance that I believe suits the reality that I live full-time in the States" (PA, 1/14).
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