La Liga side Valencia confirmed former Spain int'l JOSÉ RAMÓN ALESANCO is the club's full-time sporting director. Alesanco took on the role "on an interim basis" after JESUS GARCIA PITARCH resigned in January. Alesanco will "continue to manage Valencia's Academy," a role he took over in Sept. '15 (ESPN.com, 2/18). ... Serie A side Palermo President MAURIZIO ZAMPARINI, who has "overseen about 40 coaching changes in 15 years as the club's owner," said that he is stepping down. Zamparini bought the club in '02 when it was in Serie B and said that a new owner will be named "within 15 days." A statement from the club said, "The new president is a representative of an Anglo-American fund" (BBC, 2/27). ... Australian Football League side Gold Coast Suns Chair TONY COCHRANE announced the appointment of MARK EVANS as CEO. Evans has been GM, football operations at the AFL since '13 and previously held the position of GM, football operations at Hawthorn. Evans has stepped down from the AFL effective immediately, and will join Gold Coast on March 6 (Gold Coast Suns). ... Triathlon New Zealand announced the appointment of CLAIRE BEARD as CEO. Beard will be responsible for "leading and enabling the delivery of triathlon in New Zealand." She has "held several leadership positions in the sport and recreation sector across the past 10 years." She "led major legacy projects" in Birmingham, U.K., and for the Rugby World Cup. She is currently a board member for New Zealand Softball and North Harbour Softball (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 2/28). ... Activision Blizzard's MLG.tv named former UFC Chief Content Officer MARSHALL ZELAZNIK global head of business development. He will be "primarily responsible for maximizing the revenue opportunities around the distribution of MLG and Activision Blizzard's e-sports content" (INC.com, 2/28). ... The IOC named former Puma Senior Head of Global Sports Marketing & Licensing CHRISTIAN VOIGT VP/marketing development. He will report to IOC Managing Dir of TV & Marketing TIMO LUMME and oversee the IOC's global sponsorship and supplier programs. A dual German-American citizen, Voigt also held roles in Puma’s legal division and recently founded CMV Sports & Entertainment, a football-focused marketing agency (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer). ... Spanish second division side Huesca hired a new sporting director, replacing LALO ARANTEGUI with EMILIO VEGA. Huesca will “officially present” Vega on Friday (AS, 2/28). ... Formula 1 promoted NORMAN HOWELL to director of communications ahead of the '17 season. Howell, who spent the past two years as head of digital for F1, has "more than 30 years' experience" in the int'l sports communications and media markets. Previously, he worked as director of communications at FIA as well as head of communications at McLaren (THE DRUM, 2/28). ... NICK WEBBORN was elected chair of the British Paralympic Association on Tuesday. Webborn takes over the position from TIM REDDISH, who stepped down from the role at the end of his two-term tenure. Webborn is one of the leading sports medicine specialists in Great Britain (IPC).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Former France national rugby team Manager PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRÉ will train Cameroon, on a volunteer basis, ahead of the country’s Africa Cup campaign. Saint-André left his position with France after the 2015 Rugby World Cup (L’ÉQUIPE, 2/28). ... La Liga side Deportivo La Coruña hired former Real Betis coach PEPE MEL to "try to avoid relegation." Deportivo said that Mel signed a contract "to the end of the season." He replaces GAIZKA GARITANO (AP, 2/28). ... Scottish Premiership side Motherwell sacked Manager MARK MCGHEE after what the club described as a "disappointing" run of poor results. Coach STEPHEN ROBINSON "will take temporary charge," with help from assistant JAMES MCFADDEN and U20 coach STEPHEN CRAIGAN (BBC, 2/28).
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