Circuit of the Americas promoted Exec VP RICK ABBOTT to COO. Abbott will oversee day-to-day operations at the track and create and implement strategy and policies. Prior to joining COTA in '18, Abbott had leadership roles overseeing NBC's Rockefeller Center and ESPN's worldwide operations (COTA).
TEAM PLAYERS: The Canucks promoted VP & General Counsel CHRIS GEAR to Assistant GM. When Gear was hired before the '10-11 season, he "initially focused more on the business side of team operations." But for the last four seasons, he has "assisted on the hockey operations side" as the team's capologist (Vancouver PROVINCE, 1/8)....The Redskins hired physical therapist KEVIN WILK as a medical consultant. Wilk, who has "worked with famed sports surgeon JAMES ANDREWS, a Redskins doctor, was a priority" for Owner DAN SNYDER, who "worked hard to convince Wilk to accept a role with the franchise." This comes "days after the team fired" longtime head athletic trainer LARRY HESS (WASHINGTON POST, 1/8)....Retired USMNT G TIM HOWARD has "expanded his role" with USL club Memphis 901 FC, as he "will now serve" as Sporting Dir (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/8)....Esports organization Envy Gaming named GameStop Merchandise Marketing Manager SHERI SIMONSON Dir of Sponsorship Activation (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 1/7).
BACK TO SCHOOL: Eastern Kentucky Univ. named Nicholls State AD MATT ROAN to the same position (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 1/8)....Belmont Univ. named Titans Senior Manager of Ticket Sales JOSH WARD Associate AD/Marketing & Sales (Belmont)....UCF named Furman Senior Associate AD/Internal Affairs & CFO CAROLINE KANE Associate AD/Business (UCF).
EXECS: Sky Sports' BARNEY FRANCIS is leaving the company "after more than 20 years." No immediate time frame was given by Francis or Sky, with the company saying that he would step down "later this year." Francis was made the "CEO of future sport" at Sky in May '19 (DIGITAL TV EUROPE, 1/7)....PointsBet named Monumental Sports Network Senior Dir of Marketing JENNIFER MATTHEWS VP/Brand Marketing (THE DAILY)....USA Track & Field promoted DR. ROBERT CHAPMAN to Dir of Sports Science & Medicine and LEAH TESTA to Associate Dir of Merchandise & Retail Operations (THE DAILY)....USA Gymnastics named KIM KRANZ the organization's first VP/Athlete Health & Wellness. Kranz most recently served as Dir of Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Services & Neurosurgery at Norfolk-based Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (USAG)....Turnkey Search promoted DIANA BUSINO to Managing Dir & COO and KYLE BROWN and ALLIE CRONE to VP (Turnkey Search).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
Create your own Executive Transaction
Ready to make your next great hire? Or take the next step in your career? Connect with the industry's top employers and job seekers on the Sports Business Career Link. For more information, contact Megi Beqiraj at 212-500-0705, or mbeqiraj@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
