Former Eurosport President & TF1 Marketing President LAURENT-ERIC LE LAY "will start his role as France Télévisions sports director on Oct. 1." France Télévisions General Dir CAROLINE GOT said that Le Lay will be "responsible for the entire sports media editing group, in coordination with relevant executive directors." Le Lay replaces DANIEL BILALIAN, who had been with the company since July '14 (CB NEWS, 9/27). ... Budapest 2024 announced Tuesday that ATTILA MIHÓK will be taking over the CEO role of Hungary’s Olympic bid, replacing MIKLÓS FEKETE at the helm. Mihók has been the bid’s CSO and was previously the CEO of Mediaworks, the largest publishing house in Hungary. Fekete is stepping down from the role, citing "personal reasons." The transfer of the CEO role is planned for Oct. 15 (GAMES BIDS, 9/27). ... The Int’l Cricket Council announced the appointment of WILLIAM GLENWRIGHT as head of global development. Glenwright joins the ICC from his current role at World Rugby as GM Asia and Oceania and will take up his post at the end of the year. Glenwright wil lead cricket’s game and market development which has a focus on more competitive teams, more people playing and better cricket systems in more member countries. He will also assume responsibility for growing the game in new territories, particularly the U.S. and China (ICC).
LA 2024 HIRES PAYNE: LA 2024 has hired former IOC Marketing Dir MICHAEL PAYNE as a strategic consultant for its Olympic bid. As an independent consultant, Payne has worked for the bid committees of the last two Summer Games (Rio and London), and he negotiated a recent broadcast rights deal for the Olympics in South America. He also has represented F1 in various matters. LA 2024 Chair CASEY WASSERMAN in a statement said that Payne "brings a remarkable wealth of high-level international experience in the Olympic movement and as a leader in the global sports marketing industry" (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Top14 rugby side Montpellier announced VERN COTTER as its new head coach for the '17-18 season. Current Scotland national team coach Cotter is at the end of his contract and has signed with Montpellier for three years. He replaces JACK WHITE, who has been with the club since '14 (Montpellier). ... French Pro D2 rugby side USA Perpignan announced a reorganization of its sporting staff. PATRICK ARLETTAZ joined the team as coach and PERRY FRESHWATER will be his assistant. DIDIER PLANA was named performance manager. FRANÇOIS GELEZ and PHILIPPE BENETTON will stay on with the club until the end of their existing contracts in new positions to be determined (USAP). ... French Handball Federation (FFH) President JOËL DELPLANQUE announced a reorganization of the men's national team staff on Wednesday. Current Manager CLAUDE ONESTA will leave his position in the hands of DIDIER DINART and GUILLAUME GILLE. Onesta will take on the job of the team's GM. Dinart and Gille will share the head coaching responsibilities (FFH). ... England rugby head coach EDDIE JONES appointed 2003 World Cup winner RICHARD HILL as England team manager. The former back-row forward, who was capped 71 times by England and represented the British and Irish Lions, "will start his post next week." Jones and Hill "previously worked together when the Australian was director of rugby at Saracens" (BBC, 9/28). ... ALAN SOLOMONS has stepped down as Pro12 side Edinburgh manager, with assistant DUNCAN HODGE appointed acting head coach. South African Solomons, 66, took over from MICHAEL BRADLEY at Murrayfield in '13 and led the side to the 2015 European Rugby Challenge Cup final. But Edinburgh's Pro12 campaigns "have been disappointing." Former Scotland and Edinburgh fly-half Hodge, 42, has been attack coach under Solomons since last November and "previously held the same role with the national team." His fellow assistants, forwards coach STEVIE SCOTT and defense coach PETER WILKINS, will remain in their current roles (BBC, 9/28). ... La Liga side Granada dismissed coach PACO JEMEZ “after the club’s worst start to a season” since the ’44-45 campaign. Granada is 19th in La Liga after “having taken just two points” from its opening six games (ESPN.com, 9/28).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
