Top 14 side Montpellier Hérault Rugby announced Sporting Dir ABDELATIF BENAZZI has left his post. Former France national rugby team captain Benazzi started with MHR in July '15 (MHR).
NIELSEN U.K.: Sports analytics and insights business Nielsen Sports has appointed CHRIS HURST as its head of digital for the U.K. Hurst was previously at the BBC for the past three years, working as BBC Sport's digital development director. In that role he was the editorial and social media lead for BBC Sport's interactive services and it included overseeing BBC Sport's editorial development plans for the Rio Olympics. Hurst also worked for the Int'l Cricket Council and the Premier League. At Nielsen Sports he will play a leading role growing its range of products including Social24, its social media valuation and brand optimization tool for rights holders and brands across a range of sports (Nielsen Sports).
COACHES/MANAGERS: French Pro A basketball side SLUC Nancy President MARC BARBE announced the club named GREGOR BEUGNOT as its new head coach. Beugnot was a French int'l in the '80s and started coaching in '90. His first training session is Tuesday, and he will be assisted by MIGUEL CALERO (SLUC Nancy). ... Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua announced that former Real Betis and Sunderland Manager GUS POYET has been named head coach. Poyet, who was removed from his position at the helm of Real Betis in November, will take Shanghai into next season's CSL and the Asian Champions League qualifying rounds "after the club finished the just-completed campaign in fourth place." He replaces GREGORIO MANZANO "after the Spaniard's contract was not renewed" (ESPN.com, 11/29). ... Spanish second division side Córdoba announced that LUIS CARRIÓN will replace JOSÉ LUIS OLTRA as its coach (EP, 11/29).
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