MIKE ASHLEY-owned retailer Sports Direct appointed JON KEMPSTER as CFO, "filling the key role with a permanent member of staff" for the first time since '13. Kempster, who "has held CFO positions at a range of small and mid-sized U.K. companies," will join in September. The appointment "marks an important step for the retailer as it seeks to restore faith among investors" following a series of "corporate-governance lapses." Numis analyst ANDY WADE said, "It's good that they have managed to get a CFO in place. Not having one was unhelpful to the overall perception of the company" (BLOOMBERG, 7/20). ... SHAUN MCHUGH left his position as League Championship side Bolton Wanderers' head of finance "after less than four months." In the past 12 months, "three different men have held the financial director or head of finance post at Wanderers" (THE BOLTON NEWS, 7/19). ... Former Williams Formula 1 Team Manager STEVE NIELSEN is joining F1 as sporting director, reporting to Managing Dir ROSS BRAWN. Williams "had already announced Nielsen was leaving," with former McLaren Team Manager DAVE REDDING replacing him (REUTERS, 7/19). ... Australian Football League side Greater Western Sydney hired current Dir of Coaching ALAN MCCONNELL to
coach its AFL Women's team next season. After playing 37 games for
Footscray in the '80s, "he has produced a coaching CV as long as his
arm," including the senior job at Fitzroy in its final year before it
merged with Brisbane in '96 (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 7/20).