JEAN-PIERRE DENIS was named interim president of the French Football League (LFP). He replaces FRÉDÉRIC THIRIEZ, who left the LFP last month. Denis is the CEO of Crédit mutual de Bretagne and Crédit mutual. He will be in charge “until the next election, scheduled for the end of September” (L’ÉQUIPE, 5/27). ... French Ligue 2 side Nîmes Olympique President CHRISTIAN PERDRIER announced he is leaving the club, "because of a new direction taken by majority shareholder RANI ASSAF." Perdrier: “In the scope of new governance, I’ve decided to stop this amazing human adventure and allow the establishment of a new president who fully corresponds to the profile for the new objective” (L’ÉQUIPE, 5/30). ... Lagardère said that it was replacing CFO BRUNO BALAIRE "less than three months into his appointment after France’s stock market authority said that the nomination did not appear to conform to regulations." The group said that Balaire would reportedly be "replaced from June 1 to avoid falling foul of the rules." In a statement, it said that France’s AMF stock market authority had "informed Lagardère that insufficient time had passed" between Balaire acting as statutory auditor for the group in his previous job at an audit firm and his start as CFO. The group also said that it would replace him with GÉRARD ADSUAR, deputy CFO since '09, "until the requisite period had elapsed" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/27). ... CONCACAF elected Canadian Soccer Association President VICTOR MONTAGLIANI as CONCACAF president. Costa Rican RODOLFO VILLALOBOS was elected to the CONCACAF Council as VP. CONCACAF's 35 FIFA Members elected LUIS HERNANDEZ of Cuba, PEDRO CHALUJA of Panama, and SONIA BIEN-AIME of Turks and Caicos to represent the Confederation on the FIFA council (CONCACAF). ... Effective June 20, MARCO BOGARELLI will take over as strategic director for Wanda Sports Holding, while LUIGI DE SIERVO will start his role as CEO of Infront Italy. Reporting directly to Wanda Sports Holding President & CEO PHILIPPE BLATTER, Bogarelli will focus on additional key markets such as France, Spain and the U.K., searching for upcoming business opportunities. In his new role, he will also be responsible for anticipating trends in future media distribution and in the design of respective strategic concepts and proposals. Bogarelli will keep the role as Infront Italy's president in order to pledge continuity for the team, clients and partners (Infront). ... Nike promoted the following: VP/Global Running Footwear PHIL MCCARTNEY to VP & GM/Nike Footwear; VP & GM/Emerging Markets TOM PEDDIE to VP & GM/Integrated Marketplace North America; VP/Sales & Customer Service ANN HEBERT to VP & GM/Emerging Markets; GM/Nike Turkey CRISTOPHE MERKEL to VP & GM/Nike Japan; and VP & GM/Nike Japan JIM REYNOLDS to VP & GM/Athletic Specialty (Nike).
COACHES/MANAGERS: French Ligue 2 side Stade Brestois announced that JEAN-MARC FURLAN has signed a three-year contract to manage the club. Furlan managed Troyes until he was fired last December, and succeeds ALEX DUPONT (L’ÉQUIPE, 5/30). ... French Ligue 1 side Guingamp announced ANTOINE KOMBOUARÉ will manage the club for the next three seasons. Guingamp President BERTRAND DESPLAT announced that he and Kombouaré reached an agreement Monday morning (EA Guingamp). ... Ligue 1 side Girondins de Bordeaux announced that terms have been agreed with EA Guingamp, and Manager JOCELYN GOURVENNEC will shortly be joining the club. Brest-born Gourvennec started his coaching career with La Roche Vendée Football in '08 (Bordeaux). ... La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna "sacked boss VICTOR SANCHEZ after a disappointing end" to its season. Sanchez, 40, "signed a contract extension in January to remain in charge until the end of next season" (BBC, 5/30). ... Scottish Premiership side Iverness Caledonian Thistle long-serving striker and captain RICHIE FORAN has been appointed its new manager "on a four-year contract." The 35-year-old succeeds JOHN HUGHES, "who left earlier this month citing frustration at budget restraints." Foran, who began his career with St. Patrick's Athletic and played for the Republic at U21 level, "joined Caley Thistle after leaving Southend United" (BBC, 5/30).
