Social gaming company Zynga appointed MATT BROMBERG as COO, the third former Electronic Arts exec "to join the company this year." Reporting directly to Zynga CEO FRANK GIBEAU, Bromberg will "oversee Zynga's business operations and strategy, and various other teams including technology, IT, data science, visual design and global player experience." He will also "oversee the company’s game studio in Bangalore, India." Bromberg is the third former EA employee to be recruited by Zynga this year following Gibeau's appointment as CEO in March "and BERNARD KIM's appointment as president of publishing in June" (GAMING INTELLIGENCE, 8/8). ... German GERNOT ROHR was recommended by the Nigeria Football Federation's Technical Committee for appointment as the Super Eagles Technical Adviser. The 63-year-old former Gabon, Niger and Burkino Faso coach "will be assisted by SALISU YUSUF, who was appointed as chief coach last month." Rohr's appointment is "subject to contract terms being agreed with the NFF before a contract signing ceremony in the coming days, according to the country's football authority" (BBC, 8/7). ... Reuters named JOSHUA DUBOFF product manager for sports and entertainment verticals (THE DAILY).
CEO ON FA COUNCIL: League One side Charlton Athletic's "controversial" CEO KATRIEN MEIRE has been "appointed to the FA Council as one of four Football League representatives." The 32-year-old Belgian lawyer, who took over the day-to-day running at The Valley in Jan. '14 after ROLAND DUCHÂTELET "bought the south London club, has been met by widespread criticism from Charlton fans" as the club was relegated to League One last season "amid chaos on and off the pitch." The FA "announced the makeup of the new council on Sunday." BARRY BRIGHT leads the panel with DAVID GILL "as the acting chairman." Football League Chair IAN LENAGAN, JIM RODWELL of Scunthorpe and Fleetwood's STEVE CURWOOD "join Meire as the council's Football League representatives, with four remaining vacancies to be confirmed" (London GUARDIAN, 8/8).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Inter Milan has parted company with coach ROBERTO MANCINI "by mutual agreement," less than two weeks before the start of the Serie A season. The decision "follows a string of bad results in pre-season friendlies for Inter, with defeats against Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Tottenham in the last 15 days." According to media reports in Italy and the Netherlands, Inter is "set to sign former Ajax Amsterdam coach FRANK DE BOER who resigned from the Dutch side in May, to replace Mancini" (REUTERS, 8/8). ... Malaysia Super League side Selangor Manager ZAINAL ABIDIN HASSAN has been sacked, "just six months into the season, making him the eighth coaching casualty" of the '16 Super League season. Assistant coach K. GUNALAN will "serve as interim coach until the FA of Selangor can find a permanent replacement" (ESPN.com, 8/8). ... A-League side Central Coast Mariners has sacked Manager TONY WALMSLEY in the wake of its "disastrous FFA Cup defeat to Green Gully." Walmsley was appointed caretaker coach in March last year, but "steered the Mariners to just five wins from 30 games as well as the wooden spoon in the A-League last season." Central Coast is "in a mad scramble to find a replacement just eight weeks out from the new season." Assistant coaches JOHN HUTCHINSON, MATTHEW NASH, BRICE JOHNSON and BEN CAHN "will oversee preseason preparations in the interim" (AAP, 8/8).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com
