Bigballs Media appointed Holler co-Founder JAMES KIRKHAM to head Youtube football channel Copa90. Kirkham, who resigned as the head of mobile and social at Leo Burnett in November, will also become the chief strategy officer at Bigballs Media Europe. In his new role, Kirkham will help grow the Copa90 brand, audience and revenues globally (Bigballs Media). ... Speed Communications "has added to its senior team with the promotion" of AMANDA CALDER-MCLAREN to director of fitness & lifestyle. In a role alongside Director of Sport BELINDA MOORE, Calder-Mclaren will be responsible for "driving Speed’s growth in the fitness sector and specifically the development of Speed's sport & fitness division" in the U.S. and European markets (SPORT INDUSTRY, 2/11). ... Former police chief SOMYOT POOMPANMUANG was elected on Thursday as president of Thailand's FA (FAT), "filling a void left by the FIFA suspension of its former boss pending an ethics investigation." Somyot won 62 out of 72 votes and "vowed to clean up Thai football after his election." Somyot was "supported by several Thai football clubs" and duty-free magnate and Leicester City Owner VICHAI SRIVADDAHANAPRABHA. Somyot succeeds WORAWI MAKUDI, a former FIFA exec member "who was suspended by the world governing body's ethics watchdog in October over an alleged breach of its ethics code" (REUTERS, 2/11).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Paris St. Germain Manager LAURENT BLANC has signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until '18. PSG racked up a 16th consecutive win against Lyon on Wednesday, and the club's board underlined its confidence in Blanc with fresh terms (UEFA). ... Bundesliga side Hoffenheim named 28-year-old JULIAN NAGELSMANN its new head coach. He had been "due to take the role in July," with HUUB STEVENS tasked with keeping the club up this season. However, Stevens resigned on Wednesday after less than four months in the role because of heart problems. Nagelsmann is expected to "pass his senior coaching examinations soon" (London GUARDIAN, 2/11).
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