Univision promoted Exec VP & COO RANDY FALCO to President & CEO. He will also become a member of the company's BOD and will continue to be based in N.Y. (Univision). Falco "was given a five-year contract" (L.A. TIMES, 6/30). Univision said it conducted a "comprehensive" search process, and sources said that the company worked with executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. Sources "point out Falco's deep TV business experience as a key factor along with a past at a tech firm." Falco formerly served as AOL Chair & CEO and worked for NBC for 30 years (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/30). Faclo's appointment comes as Univision is "poised for an expansion push with the launch of a cable channel dedicated to telenovelas, news and sports during the next 18 months" (DAILY VARIETY, 6/30).
PLAYING THROUGH: Callaway Golf named BOD member ANTHONY THORNLEY interim President & CEO, filling the vacancy created by the departure of GEORGE FELLOWS, who the company said resigned for personal reasons. Fellows had served as President & CEO since August '05. Thornley served as Qualcomm President & COO from '02-05 and joined Callaway's BOD in '04 (Callaway).
EXECS: NBC golf analyst MARK ROLFING in an e-mail Monday said that he is "out" as the event organizer for the PGA Tour Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Rolfing "took over the organizing duties" for the event after Tournament Chair GARY PLANOS' job was "discontinued before the 2011 event in January" (MAUI NEWS, 6/28)....U.K.-based sports retailer Kitbag named former England 2018 World Cup bid CEO ANDY ANSON to the same position, replacing RAY EVANS (WORLDFOOTBALLINSIDER.com, 6/29)....The Padres named NICOLE SMITH Dir of Brand Development. Smith previously worked for Disney, Fox and Hewlett-Packard (THE DAILY)....The UFC named JAMES TUCKER JR. Dir of Marketing Partnerships (THE DAILY)....The Single-A South Atlantic League Lakewood Blue Claws named Octagon Dir of Athlete & Property Marketing ZACK ROSENBERG Dir of Sponsorships and promoted Ticket Sales Manager ROSS PIBAL to Dir of Premium Seating (Blue Claws).
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