The World Golf Foundation board of directors announced Nickelodeon EVP KEITH DAWKINS will become youth development organization The First Tee's next CEO. He will begin his role on Oct. 16 as incoming CEO, and officially take over as CEO on Jan. 1 when current CEO JOE LOUIS BARROW JR. retires. Dawkins will report to the World Golf Federation board and The First Tee advisory board (The First Tee). ... OVG Global Partnerships named Major League Soccer side L.A. FC Business Development Manager RANDALL HARRIS senior account exec. Randall will work out of L.A. and report to VP/Global Partnerships EVAN LEVINE (THE DAILY). ... Somerset County Cricket Club Dir of Cricket MATTHEW MAYNARD "will leave at the end of the season." A review of Somerset's cricket concluded that there "needed to be a split between the role of director of cricket and head coach." Maynard, who has been in charge for three seasons, "in effect occupies both positions" (LONDON TIMES, 9/28).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Western Sydney Wanderers coach TONY POPOVIC "quit the club on the eve" of its A-League season after reaching an agreement to coach Turkish club Karabükspor. He will travel to Istanbul to finalize a transfer to the Süper Lig club "after reaching an agreement on personal terms and will complete formalities once he arrives in Turkey" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/1).
