There was a "sense of shock" at Sky Sports on Friday with the news that Managing Dir BARNEY FRANCIS's 10-year tenure had "suddenly ended." Francis, who will now become the CEO of Future Sport at Sky, had become one of the "most influential figures in British sport and led the negotiations for Sky" in the last $6.5B EPL rights deal. Insiders "regard Francis as a casualty of the recent Comcast takeover, claiming he was 'emotional' when he addressed staff on Friday." He is being "replaced" by Commercial Dir ROB WEBSTER, who has "been at the broadcaster for more than 20 years" (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 5/10).
EXECS: Florida State named interim AD DAVID COBURN to the full-time position. Coburn had held the interim post since August. Coburn brings "almost 40 years of legislative and university experience to the position" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/11)....The NLL N.Y. Riptide named WNBA Chicago Sky CRO JIM BURDA Chief Business Officer, giving him oversight of ticketing, sponsorship, marketing and community outreach efforts. The Riptide is the expansion franchise that will begin playing during the ’19-20 season with home games at Nassau Coliseum. GF Sports, which owns the Riptide, also named Burda Exec VP & CRO for the parent company (Adam Stern, THE DAILY)....St. Louis' Ballpark Village executive team named MIKE LAMARTINA CRO. LaMartina most recently served as Entercom St. Louis Dir of Events & Experiences (STLTODAY.com, 5/10)....The Lions promoted Assistant Dir of Pro Personnel ROB LOHMAN to Dir of Pro Scouting and Assistant Dir of College Scouting DAVE SEARS toDir of College Scouting (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/12).
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