Former U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Exec Secretary CHRISTIANA FIGUERES will join retired four-time Formula 1 world champion ALAIN PROST in leading Formula E's Global Advisory Board, the series announced on Monday. The board consists of execs "from various sectors to advise on topics such as sustainability, the media and business." Members include Formula E Founder ALEJANDRO AGAG, Chinese telecom SINA Chair CHARLES CHAO, Jaguar Land Rover CMO GERD MÄUSER and former McLaren F1 Team Principal MARTIN WHITMARSH (REUTERS, 11/27). ... Former securities exchange exec ATSUSHI SAITO was approved as the next commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball on Monday. Saito, formerly the CEO of Japan Exchange Group Inc., which "oversees the operations of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Exchange," will take over from KATSUHIKO KUMAZAKI, whose term runs through the end of this month. Saito, 78, has been serving as an adviser to Kumazaki since July (KYODO, 11/27). ... MICHAEL EMENALO was appointed sporting director of Ligue 1 side Monaco, "less than a month after his surprise decision to quit Chelsea." Emenalo and Chelsea publicly claimed he "wanted to spend more time with his family after 10 years at Stamford Bridge," but he has returned to work "just three weeks later" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/27). ... AEG Ogden named THOMAS OVESEN VP, programming of Dubai Arena. He has worked in the live entertainment industry in the Middle East for the last 17 years (AEG Ogden).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Serie A side AC Milan sacked Manager VINCENZO MONTELLA and placed GENNARO GATTUSO in charge of the first team. The club is seventh in the league with 20 points, 18 behind leader Napoli. Gattuso, a former AC Milan midfielder, "steps up from managing the club's youth side" (BBC, 11/27). ... La Liga side Alavés sacked Manager GIANNI DE BIASI "just over two months after appointing him" and is searching for its third head coach of the season. De Biasi, 61, replaced LUIS ZUBELDÍA in September (PA, 11/27). ... Serie A club Sassuolo fired coach CRISTIAN BUCCHI after 15 games in charge on Monday and replaced him with "seasoned campaigner" GIUSEPPE IACHINI. The 40-year-old Bucchi, who had been coaching a top-flight club for the first time, managed four wins in all competitions and "left with his side languishing 16th in the league with 11 points" (REUTERS, 11/27). ... Spanish Basketball League (ACB) club Bilbao Basket named VELJKO MRŠIĆ its coach for the rest of the season. Mršić succeeds CARLES DURAN, who coached the team for a year and a half (MARCA, 11/26). ... Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown announced it hired SERGI BARJUAN as its coach for the next two seasons. Barjuan replaces HONG MYUNG-BO (EP, 11/26).
