Mayor of London SADIQ KHAN named WILL NORMAN London's first-ever Walking & Cycling Commissioner. Norman will work closely with Khan in helping deliver his pledge to get more Londoners active by making cycling and walking safer and easier in the capital. Norman is currently global partnerships director at Nike (City of London). ... HIROMITSU OCHIAI will "step down" as GM of Central League side Chunichi Dragons when his contract expires at the end of next month. The Dragons have "performed poorly since the 63-year-old Hall of Famer was appointed GM" in the '13 offseason, finishing fourth out of six teams in the CL in '14, fifth in '15 and last for the first time in 19 years this past season. According to sources familiar with the matter, Chunichi "plans to operate without a GM after Ochiai retires" at the end of January and "will leave the post vacant for the time being" (KYODO, 12/20). ... FuboTV, a streaming pay-TV service, appointed JOEL ARMIJO to be the company's first CFO. Armijo joins the company following his tenure as CFO at AT&T AdWorks. He will be based in fuboTV's N.Y. HQ effective immediately (fuboTV). ... Sports sponsorship and TV rights specialist DERMOT RIGLEY will become the latest addition to Pro12 Rugby when he joins the board as the commercial director in January. Rigley has been recruited from RTÉ, the national TV broadcaster in the Republic of Ireland, where he will depart his role as commercial head of sport across TV, radio and digital. Rigley was part of the sports management team at RTÉ that successfully acquired broadcast rights to the Olympics, Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Six Nations, the European Tour and the Gaelic Athletic Association Football and Hurling Championships (Pro12 Rugby). ... Williams Grand Prix Holdings announced that PAT SYMONDS will be stepping down from the role of CTO of Williams Martini Racing at the end of '16. Symonds joined Williams toward the end of the '13 Formula One season on a three-year contract (Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC). ... Cricket Wellington CEO PETER CLINTON announced that he will stand down from the role at the end of this season. Clinton will assist the transition of the new CEO. The organization's board will start recruiting a new CEO shortly after the New Year (Cricket Wellington).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Former Italian int’l volleyballer FERDINANDO DE GIORGI was named manager of the Polish national volleyball team. De Giorgi’s appointment was “unanimously accepted.” He replaces STÉPHANE ANTIGA, who left the Polish team to coach the Canadian national team (L’ÉQUIPE, 12/20). ... COLIN COOPER will "make a return to coaching in Super Rugby," taking over the Chiefs job from '18. Taranaki and Maori All Blacks coach Cooper was "given the nod to take over" from the departing DAVE RENNIE, with the Super Rugby franchise announcing his appointment on a three-year deal on Wednesday. Next year will be Rennie's sixth and final season at the Chiefs before he heads to Glasgow on a two-year deal (STUFF, 12/21).
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