Canal+ Sport Dir CYRIL LINETTE "has been appointed general manager of sports daily L'Equipe." Amaury, which owns L'Equipe, said, "Linette will join the join the Amaury Group to take on a position in the senior management team in the coming weeks." He is expected join L'Equipe in March. His appointment comes less than five months after the departure of former L'Equipe CEO FRANÇOIS MORINIÈRE (LE MONDE, 2/16). ... Russian Athletics Federation President VALENTIN BALAKHNICHEV "has quit after the latest doping scandals to hit the country." His decision comes "a month after five walkers, including three Olympic champions," were banned and coach VALENTIN MASLAKOV resigned. VP VADIM ZELICHENOK "will take charge until elections are held within six months of the 2016 Olympics" (BBC, 2/17). ... Racing Victoria Manager of Strategy & Development ANDREW CATTERALL, one of Racing Victoria’s most senior officials and a key figure in its media rights future, "has quit." He "resigned because of a fundamental difference with the RV Board over media rights." He is believed "to have resigned after arguing with the board." Catterall created RV’s new and expensive website, Racing.com, and "was seen as the person capable of elevating racing’s media exposure to levels" akin to the Australian Football League, where he previously worked for eight years (HERALD SUN, 2/17). ... Brazilian business exec VENANCIO DE CASTRO has been named executive director for AEG Brasil. AEG Facilities COO CHUCK STEEDMAN announced the new hire on Tuesday. In the newly creaged position, de Castro will be responsible for the day-to-day management of AEG Brasil's corporate staff and office in Sao Paulo. De Castro, who most recently severed as CMO for AIG Seguros Brasil SA, will additionally manage all of AEG Facilities' business operations in Brazil (AEG).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Second Bundesliga club 1860 Munich "has parted ways" with head coach MARKUS VON AHLEN. The 44-year-old "took over the club" from RICARDO MONIZ in September. He will be replaced by TORSTEN FRÖHLING. It "is the eighth sacking this season in the 2nd Bundesliga" (SID, 2/17). ... Argentine first division side Colón coach REINALDO MERLO was sacked on Monday after his club lost to San Lorenzo in its season opener. Merlo "had only coached the club in five games since his arrival" in November (DPA, 2/16). ... League Championship side Brentford Manager MARK WARBURTON "is to leave" the club at the end of the season. Assistant manager DAVID WEIR "will also depart at the end of the campaign" and Sporting Dir FRANK MCPARLAND "has been placed on gardening leave with immediate effect prior to his end-of-season departure" (SKY SPORTS, 2/17).
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