IMG College VP/National Sales JIM PYNE has left the company to pursue other opportunities. No reason was given for the separation. Pyne, the brother of IMG Sports & Entertainment President GEORGE PYNE, most notably led the sales effort when IMG College signed UPS to a four-year, $100M sponsorship agreement across nearly 70 schools. Before entering national sales, Jim Pyne sold for IMG's SEC property. Meanwhile, RUSS DEAN has been named Dir of Partner Management within IMG College's ticketing solutions unit. Dean, who formerly managed the Rice Univ. property, will be responsible for developing new business opportunities and managing the company's university partners. He will be based in Houston and report to MATT DIFEBO, VP of the ticketing group (Michael Smith, SportsBusiness Journal).
EXECS: Bengals Dir of Football Operations JIM LIPPINCOTT announced his impending retirement. Lippincott will continue to help the team prepare for the April NFL Draft (Bengals)….ESPN promoted PAUL GRANT to Deputy Editor for NHL, tennis, horse racing, cricket and lacrosse coverage on ESPN.com. Grant had previously been Coordinating Producer for “Outside the Lines” and “E:60” (THE DAILY)….The AHL Albany Devils named RONALD JOHNSON Account Exec (THE DAILY).
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