Mercedes Formula 1 "continues to strengthen itself with personnel with a past with Ferrari." The "latest to join this list" is LORENZO SASSI, who follows ALDO COSTA and JAMES ALLISON. He was fired as Ferrari's head of design in July. He is expected to begin his tenure with Mercedes in March (MARCA, 12/10). ... Former Olympic middle-distance runner PETER ELLIOTT joined the board of Goalball UK to "help develop talent and elite performance in the sport." Elliott won medals at the Commonwealth, World and Olympic levels in the '80s (LEISURE MANAGEMENT, 12/11). ... Scottish Premiership side Rangers confirmed the appointment of BARRY SCOTT as a director on the Ibrox board. Scott, who is based in Hong Kong, was named in Jan. '16 as one of three benefactors who had contributed to the £6.5M loan paid to Rangers in a "bid to pay off MIKE ASHLEY and help pay for the day-to-day running costs" (SCOTSMAN, 12/11). ... RAELENE CASTLE will become Rugby Australia's new CEO and the "first female boss of an Australian football code." Castle "edged out" former Wallabies captain PHIL KEARNS for the position, despite reports suggesting he was the favorite to take over rugby's top job. She will take over from incumbent CEO BILL PULVER (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/11).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Sudan appointed Croatian ZDRAVKO LOGARUSIĆ as national football team manager "on a short-term basis." The 55-year-old, who has worked in Ghana, Kenya, Angola and Tanzania, will lead Sudan at the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco. The Sudan FA "will review his position after CHAN" (BBC, 12/11).