Mission Sports Managing Dir ADAM WHEATLEY will act as CEO of new agency First Artist Mission, while former CEO of First Artist and football agent JON SMITH will act as chair, and experienced football agent PHIL SMITH as COO. Four-time Ashes and World Cup-winning cricketer KEVIN PIETERSEN is also a company director (First Artist Mission). ... BENITO FLORO "is out as coach" in the wake of Canada's failed World Cup qualifying campaign. The Canadian Soccer Association said that Floro's contract "is not being renewed." CSA President VICTOR MONTAGLIANI, who hired Floro, "praised the outgoing coach for his efforts with the men's program but said it was time to step up" (CANADIAN PRESS, 9/14). ... HOWARD BERNSTEIN announced he will retire as CEO of Manchester City Council after many years of public service. He played an important role in securing Manchester’s hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games -- then the largest multi-sports event ever hosted in the U.K. (Manchester City Council). ... The Playbook has announced its first senior hire following its launch in July, with NICK MEAKIN joining the agency as head of sport. Meakin, who joins from sport marketing company Pitch, will oversee the agency’s roster of sports clients including NFL UK and the ECB, alongside playing a lead role in business development. Meakin has more than 10 years of media and communications experience including roles with the FA, H+K Strategies and Lexis, and has delivered campaigns for a variety of sponsors and rights holders including Barclays, Coca-Cola, BT Sport and Visa (The Playbook).
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