After French Football League (LFP) President FRÉDÉRIC THIRIEZ stepped down earlier this week, now LFP Media Dir FRÉDÉRIC JAILLANT “is also stepping down from his post.” Former TF1 Sports Dir Jaillant was with the LFP for nine years (L’ÉQUIPE, 4/20). ... The General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic Int'l Federations re-elected FRANCESCO RICCI BITTI as its president for another four-year mandate.
The Italian "has been leading the organisation since 2013 and is Honorary Life President of the International Tennis Federation" (ISPORTCONNECT, 4/19). ... The NRG eSports team named former Apple Global Head of Publisher Relations & Business Development ANDREW PRUETT its new CEO. Pruett will "be taking on his new role" full-time. Former NRG eSports CEO GERARD KELLY will "move to a general management role" (ESPN, 4/19). ... Marketing agency Ascendent Sports Group named Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment VP/Corporate Consulting PETER HONIG VP of corporate and property consulting (Ascendent).
... Ericsson President & CEO HANS VESTBERG "has been elected chairman of the Swedish Olympic Committee."
The 50-year-old "was the only candidate on the ballot paper following the withdrawal prior to the meeting" of BJORN ERIKSSON, making Vestberg's election a formality. Vestberg "started his career at telecom equipment maker Ericsson in 1988 and he was appointed CEO in 2010." His sporting background "is primarily in handball and he is chairman of the Swedish Handball Association" (REUTERS, 4/19).
BCCI APPOINTS CEO: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced RAHUL JOHRI "as its first-ever chief executive officer." Johri quit Discovery Networks "after spending 15 years with the broadcasting major." He "was Discovery Networks Asia Pacific’s executive vice-president and general manager for south Asia." Johri "will report to the BCCI secretary." It "remains to be seen if he will be given freedom to work independently in a set-up that’s traditionally controlled by honorary office-bearers" (THE HINDU, 4/20).
COACHES/MANAGERS: RONNY DEILA "will step down" as manager of Scottish Premiership side Celtic at the end of the season.
Celtic is currently eight points clear of Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership "and on course for a fifth successive title, but Deila’s position has been under scrutiny for some time."
Celtic has "made little progress in Europe under the 40-year-old" and was knocked out of the Scottish Cup on Sunday (AFP, 4/20). ... Brazil-born former Costa Rican midfielder ALEXANDRE GUIMARAES "will coach Mumbai City FC in next season’s Indian Super League." He "has had successful stints with Costa Rica’s national team that qualified for FIFA World Cups in 2002 and 2006." He "has been manager of the Panama national team, several clubs in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, UAE and China"
(THE HINDU, 4/20). ... ELISHA LEVY will coach Israel for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, with the 58-year-old taking over following the departure of ELI GUTMAN. Once captain of Maccabi Haifa, Jerusalem-born Levy has been in charge of a number of local club sides since hanging up his boots in '89, most notably Maccabi Haifa, which he led to two domestic titles and on to the '09-10 UEFA Champions League group stage (UEFA). ... Serie B side Avellino sacked coach DARIO MARCOLIN "after less than a month and replaced him with his predecessor ATTILIO TESSER." Marcolin replaced Tesser on March 22 with a deal until the end of the season, but Avellino opted to recall its former boss (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 4/20).
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