ALEX MAHON has been named the new CEO of British public broadcaster Channel 4. She is the "first woman to take on the role in the broadcaster's 35-year history." Mahon was previously head of Shine Group until '15 and is currently CEO of special effects company Foundry. She succeeds DAVID ABRAHAM and "will start her new role this autumn" (BBC, 6/5). ... Engineering company Sir Robert McAlpine made an "unlikely poach from the quoted sector" by hiring global consultancy WYG CEO PAUL HAMER as its new CEO. Hamer will "take up the hot seat" at the end of July, 12 months after former CEO TONY AIKENHEAD's departure. Sir Robert McAlpine built major projects including London's Olympic Stadium, Emirates Stadium and The O2 (London TELEGRAPH, 6/6). ... Spanish Basketball League (ACB) side Bilbao announced the hire of Dir General DIEGO SÁENZ, who replaces EDUARDO GÁRATE. He is expected to be "officially presented by Bilbao on Friday" (AS, 6/6). ... Czech FA (FACR) Chair MIROSLAV PELTA, who is "currently in police custody on charges of mishandling state subsidies," resigned. Police arrested Pelta and two officials from the Czech Education & Sports Ministry in May and "charged them with abuse of power, breaching fiduciary duties and favouritism in public tenders" (REUTERS, 6/6). ... Former Scottish side Rangers Chair ALASTAIR JOHNSTON accepted an offer to join the Rangers Int'l Football Club board. He returns as a director following the departure of JOHN GILLIGAN. Johnston was chair of the club from '09-11, but was "ousted" following CRAIG WHYTE's takeover (BBC, 6/6). ... BBC Radio 5 presenter DARREN FLETCHER is "one of six appointments" to League Two side Notts County's new board of directors. Sports PR firm Macesport Founder PAUL MACE and property consultancy director JON ENEVER also joined the club. CEO JASON TURNER becomes football operations director, with CORRINE RIGBY as finance director and AMANDA FLETCHER as commercial director (BBC, 6/6). ... Sports and entertainment agency Pitch appointed LEE CHENEY as head of production. He will lead the agency’s in-house content division, Pitch Productions, and will be responsible for its overall creative direction, logistics and strategy (PR WEEK, 6/6). ... JOHN FERGUSON stepped down as the CEO and racing manager of horse racing stable Godolphin after "appearing to lose a power struggle" with SAEED BIN SUROOR, one of its principal trainers (LONDON TIMES, 6/6). Godolphin announced JOE OSBORNE, the current managing director of Godolphin in Ireland, will be the interim CEO (London GUARDIAN, 6/6). ... Former NASCAR Digital Media VP COLIN SMITH will join Motorsport Network as its new CEO. Smith joins Motorsport Network after spending the past five years at NASCAR Digital Media (Motorsport).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Serie A side Fiorentina appointed STEFANO PIOLI as its new head coach with the former Inter Milan manager replacing PAULO SOUSA on an initial two-year contract. Pioli was sacked by Inter in May "after lasting just six months" (PA, 6/6). ... Newly-promoted Ligue 2 side Châteauroux announced JEAN-LUC VASSEUR as its new manager, replacing MICHEL ESTEVAN. The club won the third-tier National Championship last season to secure promotion. Vasseur will be assisted by OLIVIER SARAGAGLIA, JÉRÉMY SOPALSKI and ROMARIC BOCH (L’ÉQUIPE, 6/6). ... Former Serie A side AS Roma coach LUCIANO SPALLETTI said that he reached a deal to "take over at Inter Milan." The deal is reportedly for two years and comes a week after Spalletti departed Roma, after guiding it to a runner-up finish in Serie A last season. It was "widely expected" given Spalletti's relationship with Inter Milan Sporting Dir WALTER SABATINI, who also recently joined from Roma (AP, 6/6). ... Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund appointed PETER BOSZ as its new manager, "a week after the departure" of THOMAS TUCHEL. Bosz, 53, joins on a two-year contract after leading Eredivisie club Ajax to the Europa League final, with Dortmund reportedly having agreed to pay the Dutch side €5M ($5.6M) (ESPN.com, 6/6). ... Recently-promoted English side Huddersfield Town Manager DAVID WAGNER agreed to stay at the club for its Premier League campaign and is "expected to announce a new contract imminently." The 45-year-old German reached an agreement with Chair DEAN HOYLE (London TELEGRAPH, 6/6). ... Former Scottish football sides Aberdeen and Dunfermline Athletic midfielder DARREN FIFE has been named Scottish League One side East Fife manager. The 38-year-old, who left Albion Rovers at the end of the season, takes over after BARRY SMITH moved to Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers (BBC, 6/3).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com
