The French Professional Football League (LFP) named OLIVIER JAUBERT its commercial & marketing director. Jaubert previously worked for Nike France as a sponsorship director and as merchandising director for Paris St. Germain, Juventus and the Brazilian Football Confederation (LFP). ... The French Tennis Federation (FFT) named JEAN-LUC COTARD its national technical director. An FFT council nominated Cotard for the position and the 54-year-old was approved by French Sport Secretary THIERRY BRAILLARD (FFT). ... Ellerslie Racecourse CEO CAMERON GEORGE is moving to National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors, "where he has been on the board for two years," to take up the full-time role as COO. George leaves Ellerslie "in a strong position," with three NZ$1M ($694,000) races scheduled for next season and "overall stake levels high" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 5/3). ... Premiership Rugby side Wasps announced DAVID ARMSTRONG will step down as group CEO in June and "will be succeeded" by Deputy Chair NICK EASTWOOD. Armstrong played a "pivotal role in helping the club" move to its current Ricoh Arena home in Coventry. Eastwood joined Wasps as CEO in '12 "on the back of a 12-year spell" with the Rugby Football Union before ceding the role to Armstrong in March '15 (SKY SPORTS, 5/2). ... League One side Port Vale Chair NORMAN SMURTHWAITE stood down and said that he has "seriously damaged the club." Vale's four-year spell in League One "ended with relegation on Sunday." Smurthwaite, who also said that he will not attend any future matches at Vale Park, was "part of the investment group that took Vale out of administration" in Nov. '12. He became chair the following year after PAUL WILDES resigned (BBC, 5/2). ... EPL side West Ham United Managing Dir ANGUS KINNEAR is leaving the club to join League Championship club Leeds United as its new CEO. Kinnear has been recruited by Leeds Owner ANDREA RADRIZZANI and is "expected to leave the Premier League club at the end of the season." Kinnear joined from Arsenal in '13, with his "principal area of responsibility being West Ham’s move to the London Stadium" (London EVENING STANDARD, 5/2).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
