Bundesliga side FC Schalke confirmed the appointment of CHRISTIAN HEIDEL as its new sporting director. Heidel will replace HORST HELDT, whose contract expires in June. Heidel has held a similar position at league rival Mainz for the past 24 years. Heidel will receive a contract until '20 (Schalke). ... English fourth-tier club Bristol Rovers "have been taken over" by the family of Jordanian FA board member WAEL AL-QADI, who becomes Rovers' new president (REUTERS, 2/19). ... Adidas hired former Lululemon CEO CHRISTINE DAY to improve its womenswear's performance. The brand moved marketing exec NICOLE VOLLEBREGT to run its women’s division and "she has been consulting with Day on turning around the women’s department." Day has been acting as an adviser to adidas on "retail strategy and collaboration with smaller brands for a number of months." Day reportedly initially "rebuffed" adidas "a number of times before being won around to the idea of a consultancy job." She is full-time CEO at frozen-food company Luvo (MARKETING MAGAZINE, 2/19). ... Major events professional ANDREA NELSON has been appointed as New Zealand operations GM for the Rugby League World Cup 2017. Nelson joins the RLWC2017 local organizing committee, having previously held the role of marketing and communications director for the FIFA U20 World Cup, delivering promotions and fan activations across New Zealand (Rugby League World Cup). ... Discovery Communications has appointed ATSUSHI SAITO as VP, ad sales for Eurosport. Discovery Advertiser Partnerships Senior VP, Managing Dir JONATHAN DAVIES made the announcement. Saito will report to Davies. Saito is tasked to maximize Eurosport’s ad sales efforts in Asia Pacific "by providing innovative and bespoke solutions for clients and developing meaningful partnerships." Saito started his media sales career over 16 years ago with Star TV, a subsidiary of News Corp., and was last with Turner Japan where he served as CNN global advertising sales director (INDIAN TELEVISION, 2/19).
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