NBCUniversal announced that Int'l Chair JEFF SHELL, who has recently "been focused on the media conglomerate's international businesses, will take over day-to-day operations at Universal Studios." Shell, before joining Comcast/NBCU, "logged time at News Corporation, where he helped oversee Fox Sports" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/10). Shell ran Fox' "cluster of regional cablers -- a demanding job that involves wrangling distribution deals with cable and satellite operators and rights pacts with local teams." He segued to Comcast in early '05 "as programming prexy to oversee Comcast-owned channels," including Golf Channel and Comcast's RSNs (VARIETY.com, 9/9). Shell had recently been mentioned as a candidate for DreamWorks Animation's soon-to-be-available President & CFO position (THE DAILY).
HANGING A NEW SHINGLE: Law firm Kelley Drye & Warren named Dow Lohnes partner ADISA BAKARI to chair the firm's newly formed Sports Entertainment Group. Bakari started Dow Lohnes' sports and entertainment division nearly 15 years ago. In addition, his partner JEFFERY WHITNEY joins the firm as Vice Chair of the group (THE DAILY).
EXECS: MLS expansion club NYC FC formally named former Rutgers Univ. AD TIM PERNETTI Chief Business Officer, reporting directly to CEO FERRAN SORIANO (NYC FC)....Sources said that Buccaneers CMO JASON DIAL "has resigned" and is headed to "a new leadership position for an as of yet unnamed sports and entertainment company" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/9)....The Clippers promoted Dir of Communications SETH BURTON to VP/Communications, replacing JOE SAFETY, who "resigned in June after 20 years with the organization." The Clippers also promoted DENNIS ROGERS to Dir of Communications & Digital Media and named TA'NISHA COOPER and STEVEN ESPARZA Assistant Dirs of Communications, AUBREY FRECKMAN Communications Assistant and ERIC PATTEN Digital Media Manager & Communications Coordinator (LATIMES.com, 9/9)....The WNBA Dream named ALTON BYRD Chief Revenue Officer (Dream)....The Univ. of Tennessee promoted JIMMY STANTON to Senior Associate AD/Communications (UT)....Northeastern Univ. named Univ. of Minnesota Senior Associate AD REGINA SULLIVAN Exec Senior Associate AD and Senior Woman Administrator. Sullivan replaces AMANDA BRAUN, who left to become Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee AD (NU)....The Univ. of Michigan named Pistons Exec VP PETE SKORICH to the newly-created position of Senior Associate AD/Communications, Broadcast, Multimedia & Creative Services (UM)....UMass-Boston named Concordia Univ. Assistant AD and Senior Woman Administrator TRACEY HATHAWAY Compliance Officer and Assistant Academic Adviser (UMass)....Marketing & sales exec STEVE HAGEN has launched sports marketing firm Legacy Health & Tennis (Legacy).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
