USA Rugby announced the hiring of DAN PAYNE as its new CEO "to replace NIGEL MELVILLE." Payne, 43, most "recently served as the athletics director for rugby powerhouse Life University, where he added 10 varsity sports programmes and spurred a growth to over 300 student athletes" (RUNNING RUGBY, 7/6). ... The only commissioner in the history of Japanese basketball's bj-league, TOSHIMITSU KAWACHI, "was named technical adviser to the new B. League," which combines the bj-league, the National Basketball League and the National Basketball Development League and tips off its first season on Sept. 22. Kawachi has had past roles "as a TV commentator, including NBA games, player, club and national team coach" and bj-league side Niigata Albirex front-office exec. The B. League "spelled out that Kawachi's advisory role will include aspects of internet, TV and radio game broadcasts and overall competition" (JAPAN TIMES, 7/7). ... The Int'l Association of Venue Managers has "named facility management veteran BRAD MAYNE as its new president & CEO," effective July 19, in a move "applauded by members of the industry trade group after the news was announced." Mayne, who previously served in the same capacity for MetLife Stadium ('12-16) and American Airlines Center ('98-'12), and who ran arenas in Anaheim, Salt Lake City and Cedar Rapids in a career dating to '81, "signed a three-year deal to run the organization." The IAVM BOD had been searching for a new leader since VICKI HAWARDEN "left the group in January after a four-year run as president & CEO" (THE DAILY). ... Bayern Munich and Media & Communications Dir MARKUS HÖRWICK will part ways after 35 years. STEFAN MENNERICH, the club's director of new media, media rights and IT, will take over Hörwick's duties in the club's restructured press department (Bayern Munich). ... Millharbour Marketing Strategic Marketing & Sponsorship Dir SOPHIE MORRIS was elected "to the Board of Directors of the European Sponsorship Association at its AGM on Wednesday." Morris has 15 years of marketing experience and "was most recently a director of marketing in financial services." She led sponsorship for British invitational rugby side Barbarians games for four years, before starting her own consultancy, Millharbour Marketing, in '13 (ISPORTCONNECT, 7/7).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Former Netherlands midfielder CLARENCE SEEDORF "has been named head coach at Chinese second-tier club Shenzhen FC." His only previous spell as a coach was at AC Milan, which "he left in June 2014 after five months in charge." Seedorf "was linked with roles at Newcastle and QPR last year" (BBC, 7/7). ... Former England captain JAMIE PEACOCK "has been named his country's team manager." The former Leeds forward, who was capped 47 times by Great Britain and England, "has been appointed to the role" by the Rugby Football League. He will "work alongside head coach WAYNE BENNETT at this year's Four Nations Series." Peacock will be "responsible for team planning and logistics, day-to-day management of the tournament programme, manage relationships with the RFL, clubs and sponsors and will lead on player support" (SKY SPORTS, 7/6).
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