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People and Pop Culture

People: Executive transactions

Basketball
The Charlotte Hornets hired Nicole Metzger as vice president of corporate partnership sales. Metzger was vice president of global partnerships with the Miami Dolphins.

The Milwaukee Bucks named Barry Baum senior vice president of communications. Baum was chief communications officer and executive vice president with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx hired John Thomas as vice president of community engagement. Thomas was national training manager for Life Time Fitness.

The Orlando Magic named Jeff Weltman president of basketball operations and John Hammond general manager. Weltman was general manager of the Toronto Raptors, and Hammond was general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The WNBA’s Dallas Wings named former WNBA player Erin Phillips director of player and franchise development.

Champions Basketball League hired Chris Alpert as executive vice president of the Gotham Ballers. Alpert was vice president of basketball operations and player personnel for the NBA D-League.

Colleges
The Air Force Academy named Sara Muirheid director of business development and community outreach and promoted Nicholas Kinney to assistant athletic director for annual giving, Michael Marfione to assistant athletic director for marketing and Jonathon Morris to assistant athletic director for ticketing and sales.

Arizona State University hired Natesh Rao as senior associate athletic director. Rao was manager of global responsibility, public relations and communications at Starbucks.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hired Travis Whipple as deputy athletic director. Whipple was University of Arkansas-Little Rock assistant athletic director of external operations.

The Atlantic 10 Conference named Keith Gill executive associate commissioner. Gill was athletic director at the University of Richmond.

Austin Peay State University hired Katie Locke as director of ticket operations. Locke was University of Louisiana at Monroe director of ticketing and sales.

Florida Atlantic University named Brian MacDonald adjunct professor for sports analytics. MacDonald is director of analytics with the Florida Panthers.

University of Louisiana at Monroe Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom will not seek to renew his contract, which ends June 30.

University of Mississippi deputy athletic director Stephen Ponder resigned because of personal matters.

Fairfield University Athletic Director Gene Doris is leaving the school.

Football
The Buffalo Bills named Malik Boyd director of pro personnel. Boyd was an assistant director of pro scouting with the Arizona Cardinals. Buffalo also hired Dennis Hickey as senior college scout. Hickey was the Miami Dolphins’ general manager from 2014-15.

The Carolina Panthers promoted Mark Koncz to director of player personnel, Jeff Morrow to director of college scouting, Matt Allen to director of pro personnel. The Panthers shifted Don Gregory to senior executive scout.

The Cleveland Browns hired Ryan Grigson as senior personnel executive. Grigson was Indianapolis Colts general manager.

The Denver Broncos promoted Mac Freeman to chief commercial officer, Patrick Smyth to executive vice president of public and community relations, Nancy Svoboda to executive vice president of human resources, Chip Conway to senior vice president of corporate partnerships, Brady Kellogg to senior vice president of corporate partnerships, Dennis Moore to senior vice president of sales and marketing, Erich Schubert to director of media relations and Seth Medvin to strategic communications manager.

The Houston Texans hired Jimmy Raye III as vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager. Raye was vice president of football operations with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Kansas City Chiefs hired Tim Terry as director of pro personnel. Terry was assistant director of pro personnel with the Green Bay Packers.

The San Francisco 49ers named Ran Carthon director of pro personnel. Carthon was in the same position with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Brett Greene as director of video. Greene replaces Dave Levy, who along with Chris Bryan are no longer with the team.

Golf
The Executive Women’s Golf Association named Jane Geddes CEO. Geddes was executive director of the International Association of Golf Administrators.

The PGA Tour named Allison Fillmore senior director of sales. Fillmore was Atlanta Motor Speedway vice president of sales.

Hockey
The Los Angeles Kings hired Marisa Blanco as Chariot program and events coordinator and promoted Gaby Smotrys to assistant in ticket sales and service.

The Anaheim Ducks hired Jason Andrea as corporate partnerships manager. Andrea was manager of business development for Learfield at Oregon State University.

The New Jersey Devils named Patrick Ayling account executive for business development, Malcolm Bremer account executive for group events and Bobby Brown, Sean Burnette, Chris Marra, Nick Giella and Matt Laux account executives for membership sales.

The New York Rangers named assistant general manager Chris Drury general manager of the American Hockey League’s Hartford (Conn.) Wolf Pack.

The Arizona Coyotes promoted Steve Sullivan to assistant general manager and hired Craig Cunningham as a pro scout. Cunningham played for the club from 2014-16.

Marketing

LIENERT
ROSCOE
PEARSON
GMR Marketing named Jesse Pearson creative director. Pearson was group creative director at OgilvyOne.

Soccer
Columbus Crew SC named Alison Roscoe vice president of cooperate partnerships. Roscoe was director of partnership development for the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment.

LAFC promoted Michael Lienert to manager of business development.

Minnesota United FC hired Bryant Pfeiffer as senior vice president of sales and strategy. Pfeiffer was vice president of club services at MLS.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and FC Dallas named Djorn Buchholz executive director of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Sporting Goods and Apparel
André Hawaux, Dick’s Sporting Goods executive vice president and chief operating officer, will retire after the second quarter. The company promoted Lauren Hobart to president and hired Keri Jones as executive vice president and chief merchant, and Don Germano as senior vice president of operations.

STRINGER

Other
UFC hired Peter Stringer as vice president of social media. Stringer was vice president of digital media for the Boston Celtics.

People news
To have your personnel announcements included in the People section, please send information and photos to Brandon McClung at 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202, or email them to careers@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Electronic photos must be a jpg or tiff file for Macintosh, 2.25 inches wide at 300 dpi. Color only, please. News items may also be sent via fax to (704) 973-1401. If you have questions, call (704) 973-1425.


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