Apple has "shown its hand in the TV market" with the hire of former Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer JAY HUNT to lead a new program commissioning team in London. Hunt is "due to take up the role of creative director for video in Europe in January," after leaving the public broadcaster at the end of September. It has been reported that in this role, Hunt has been "given license to buy both drama and unscripted programming" (THE DRUM, 10/25).
COACHES/MANAGERS: PEPE MEL is "no longer in charge" at La Liga side Deportivo La Coruña after the club officially announced his dismissal on Tuesday. The club, which is currently in 16th place in the league, revealed CRISTÓBAL PARRALO will take charge of the first team on an interim basis until the end of the season (MARCA, 10/24). ... Cycling team Cofidis replaced team Manager YVES SANQUER with former rider-turned-TV pundit CÉDRIC VASSEUR, "citing poor results as the reason for the switch." Cofidis is one of the "long-standing teams" in the professional peloton, riding under the same sponsorship since '97 (CYCLING NEWS, 10/25). ... PEDRO MARTÍNEZ LOSA "left his post" as manager of Women's Super League 1 side Arsenal Women "after three years in charge." Spaniard Losa, 41, oversaw the club's 2016 Women's FA Cup triumph and won the 2015 WSL Cup (BBC, 10/25). ... EPL side Leicester City announced CLAUDE PUEL as its new manager. The 56-year-old Frenchman arrives at the club with experience managing in Ligue 1, the Premier League and the Champions League. He signed a contract through June '20 (Leicester City).
