Former Socceroo and media identity CRAIG FOSTER was appointed as interim chair of Professional Footballers Australia, marking a "critical step toward resolution" in the "civil war" that threatened to tear PFA apart. The arrival of Foster -- a lifetime member of the PFA and a "staunch advocate" of player rights -- is expected to "see the issues thrashed out and provide stability" to the organization after the "recent turmoil" (THE AGE, 1/27). ... NBC Olympics promoted Senior VP/Programming PETER DIAMOND to exec VP, a move reflecting his growing portfolio. He will now report to NBC Olympics Exec Producer JIM BELL. Diamond will continue to be in charge of NBC's coverage of the Games, which has expanded as NBCU grows its digital footprint (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer). ... Wanda Sports has reportedly hired DAVID YANG, former senior VP of business affairs at NBA China, as its CEO in China. Yang will replace SHEN JIAYING in charge of Wanda Sports China. Following the appointment of PHILIPPE BLATTER as global CEO at Wanda Sports and ANDREW MESSICK's remaining at IRONMAN, the move sees "another executive from outside Wanda Group's commercial empire enter the management of Wanda's sports arm" (YUTANG SPORTS, 1/27). ... Agencies Capitalize and Tea & Cake PR rebranded as one new agency, ALTER. PETER KELLETT will continue in his role as creative director and LUCY FINNEGAN, former managing director of Tea & Cake PR, is now board director. ALTER's clients include Beats By Dre, Alcatel OneTouch, Puma, Bacardi, JD Sports Group, Berry Bros & Rudd, Lord’s Taverners, Havaianas and Merrell (ALTER). ... FREDERIC HANTZ "took charge of training at struggling"
French Ligue 1 side Montpellier for the first time on Thursday and said
that becoming the club's new head coach was "a dream come true." The
former Bastia and Le Havre boss "has been recruited to save the team
from relegation," as it currently sits 18th in the league (ESPN, 1/27).
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