NFL UK appointed MELISSA BROWN as VP of commercial partnerships to help drive the organization’s commercial performance in the U.K. Brown, a sales and marketing exec with more than 15 years' experience in the entertainment industry, will work from the league’s London office where she will "oversee a sponsorship and consumer products team of six." She will report to the NFL UK managing director and will work with the organization’s partners to open up more commercial opportunities. She previously spent six years as commercial director at Syco Entertainment where she was responsible for building brand partnerships for The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent (THE DRUM, 6/6). ... Former Perform Media Germany Managing Dir MANUEL LOPEZ "has become a new partner and shareholder of Happy Bet." Lopez "will be in charge of the German sports betting provider's digital and brand strategies." Lopez "is expected to continue as an adviser for Lagardère Sports until the end of June." He will also "continue to run his own consulting agency Deportivo Consulting" (SPONSORs, 6/7). ... Argentine first division side San Lorenzo VP MARCELO TINELLI, one of the candidates for the Argentine FA's presidential elections on June 30, "shook up" the football scene when he announced he would "step down from the race to AFA’s presidency." Sources close to the matter explained that Tinelli seeks to "keep distance from the chaotic situation" the AFA is going through. Tinelli’s resignation was followed by AFA First VP RODOLFO D'ONOFRIO and Treasurer MATÍAS LAMMENS (BUENOS AIRES HERALD, 6/2). ... Baofeng Sport announced the appointment of MP & Silva Founder ANDREA RADRIZZANI as president of the company's sports business, Baofeng Sport Int'l. Radrizzani will bring the Chinese market to top int'l rights holders and lead the int'l expansion of Baofeng's digital innovation. He will lead the global digital distribution, stimulating new partnerships from China and overseas markets including mass-market VR, an extension of the live fan experience, for which Baofeng Group is known as a leading player in China (Baofeng). ... ESPN Marketing Exec SEAN HANRAHAN now will oversee the company’s brand marketing efforts as senior VP/brand & marketing solutions. Hanrahan since '08 has headed up ESPN’s marketing solutions group. His new role comes a year after ESPN President of Global Sales & Marketing ED ERHARDT was given responsibility of both groups. Hanrahan will continue to report to Senior VP/Marketing & Consumer Engagement WANDA YOUNG (John Ourand, Staff Writer). ... WWE named Mattel VP/Global Brands Communications JULIA JENSEN VP/brand (WWE). ... The NBA announced that ARNON DE MELLO has been named NBA Latin America VP & managing director. De Mello, previously NBA Brazil VP & managing director, will oversee the development and expansion of the NBA's business and basketball initiatives throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In this role, he will direct all of the league's efforts in the region across marketing partnerships, events, TV, digital media and licensed merchandise through a dedicated Latin America team with HQ in N.Y. and two local offices in Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City (NBA). ... Reliance Foundation Founder & Chair NITA AMBANI was "nominated as a candidate" to be a member of the IOC. Part of a list of eight members who were selected by the Commission, "she is the first Indian woman to be nominated to the IOC." Reliance Foundation "is the philanthropic arm of energy and petrochemicals major Reliance Industries Ltd." (NET INDIAN, 6/7).
COACHES/MANAGERS: MIGUEL ÁNGEL NADAL on Tuesday resigned as sporting director of Spanish second division side Mallorca. The club "narrowly avoided relegation to Spain's third tier" (EFE, 6/7). ... Spanish second division side Real Valladolid announced that PACO HERRERA will coach the club through June '17. Herrera previously coached Las Palmas (MARCA, 6/7). ... FABIO CANNAVARO will reportedly "return to China to coach Tianjin Quanjian." The former Italy defender, who captained his country to World Cup victory in '06, "has already got Chinese experience under his belt following a one-year stint as coach of Guangzhou Evergrande that ended last summer" (AFP, 6/7). ... Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President CARLO TAVECCHIO confirmed that GIAMPIERO VENTURA will be the next Italy head coach. Current Manager ANTONIO CONTE will "leave the Azzurri post" after the European Championship in France, to "take over at Chelsea." The former Torino coach had "been linked to the Azzurri for several weeks," making Tuesday's announcement "no surprise" at this stage. Ventura "signed a two-year deal with the FIGC," thought to be worth around €1.3M ($1.5M) per season (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 6/7). ... Former AC Milan and Italy striker FILIPPO INZAGHI has taken charge of Italian third-tier club Venezia. The 42-year-old Inzaghi, who also played for Juventus, managed AC Milan in the '14-15 season, but was replaced by SINISA MIHAJLOVIC after guiding the team to a "disappointing 10th in the Italian top flight" (SKY SPORTS, 6/7). ... ZLATKO DALIC agreed to a two-year contract with Arabian Gulf League club Al Ain. He had been "expected to leave the club following the expiration last week of his previous deal" (THE NATIONAL, 6/7).
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