The NBA has hired marketer PAMELA EL as the league’s new CMO, the latest management move under NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER. As CMO, El will oversee the league’s global marketing, branding and advertising operations. She begins her new job on Aug. 18 and will report to NBA Deputy Commissioner MARK TATUM. El comes to the NBA from Nationwide Insurance, where she worked as senior VP/financial brand marketing since June '13. Prior to Nationwide, El spent 11 years at State Farm, where she played a key role in the company’s sponsorship deal with the NBA and its endorsement deal with LEBRON JAMES. Prior to working for Nationwide and State Farm, El worked for Terabeam Corp., U.S. West Communications, and The Martin Agency. El joins the NBA after the departure of former Exec VP/Marketing JAMIE GALLO (John Lombardo, SportsBusiness Journal). ... Spanish second division side Osasuna announced it has hired JAN URBAN as its new coach. Urban "takes over with the objective of returning the club to La Liga" (EFE, 7/9). ... Liga MX side América announced that RICARDO PELÁEZ "is returning to his position as the club's sporting president after working as the sports director of the Mexican national team during the World Cup" (LA AFICION, 7/9). ... NEIL ENGLAND "has quit his high-profile role at Silverstone after recent changes by the British Racing Drivers' Club." These changes "were made in the wake of the investment deal struck last September with commercial property company MEPC." England "was instrumental in recent investments in the circuit," most notably the £27M "Wing" pit and paddock complex, but with MEPC in place, England "has decided the time was right for him to move on" (SKY SPORTS, 7/9). ... The 20th FIM Europe Congress elected WOLFGANG SRB as its new president. He received 63 of 75 possible votes. During the Congress, eight VPs were elected: NINA BIRJUKOVA, LaMSF-Latvia, JEAN-MARC DESNUES, FFM-France, MARTIN DE GRAAFF, KNMV, The Netherlands, JUHANI HALME, SML, Finland, SILVIO MANICARDI, FMI, Italy, MICHAL SIKORA, PZM, Poland, JAN STOVICEK, ACCR, Czech Republic, and MICHAEL TURK, MUL, Luxembourg. Four judges and two auditors "were also elected by acclamation" (FIM Europe).
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