PHIL LYNCH joined ManU as the CEO of media, where he will be responsible for overseeing the club's digital media strategy, the management and operations of MUTV, the creation and editorial oversight of the club's official matchday program and monthly magazines, the club's digital media partnerships and direct-to-consumer products. Prior to his time at ManU, Lynch was the global head/VP of content & media partnerships at Yahoo. During his tenure, he was selected by Variety as one of "Hollywood's New Leaders" for '16 and credited with developing Yahoo's live sports offering via securing broadcast rights and partnerships with the likes of the NFL, NHL, MLB and PGA Tour (ManU). ... Former Australian Football League side Carlton captain CHRIS JUDD "will return to the club after accepting a role as football director, to start at the end" of the '17 season. Judd, who played 145 games for the Blues from '08-15, will have a role on the Carlton board. Judd, who signed a three-year deal, said that current Football Dir ADRIAN GLEESON "would hand over to him at the end of the footy season, and he would spend the next six months getting ready for the job" (THE AGE, 2/20). ... Former world No. 1 PAT RAFTER "stepped down from his role as the head of high performance at Tennis Australia." The two-time US Open winner assumed the role late in '14 with a "vow to end what he saw as a culture of entitlement in Australian tennis." The former Davis Cup captain "will be replaced as the director of high performance for Tennis Australia by WALLY MASUR, an elite player who also has extensive media, coaching and boardroom experience" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/17). ... Mercedes Formula 1 Motorsport Dir TOTO WOLFF and non-exec Chair NIKI LAUDA "signed new deals to stay with the team" until the end of '20. Their new contracts "coincide with the duration of Mercedes' own current commitment to F1." Wolff retains his 30% shareholding in the team and Lauda his 10% stake (BBC, 2/20). ... SILJA HINTZ was appointed head of sales, DACH at Puma. She will be responsible for field and key accounts in the German, Austrian and Swiss markets. Hintz started her career at adidas in '03 (Puma). ... La Liga side Granada "parted company" with Sporting Dir JAVIER TORRALBO "less than a year after he assumed the role." Torralbo previously worked in the role for Real Madrid and also worked at PERE GUARDIOLA's agency, Media Base Sport, owned by Mediapro (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 2/20).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Pro12 side Edinburgh appointed former Leicester Tigers Rugby Dir RICHARD COCKERILL as head coach from next season. Cockerill, who was sacked by Leicester last month, "is working as a consultant with Toulon in the French Top14." He signed a two-year deal with Scottish Rugby. Edinburgh acting Manager DUNCAN HODGE will "return to his previous position as backs coach when Cockerill takes up his post" (BBC, 2/20). ... Serie A side Genoa sacked Manager IVAN JURIC and appointed ANDREA MANDORLINI to the position. The club "scraped together just two points" from its last nine games and is without a win since "mid-December." Former Verona and Atalanta Manager Mandorlini signed an 18-month contract (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 2/20).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com