Motorsport.com appointed CSM Sport & Entertainment CEO ZAK BROWN as non-exec chairman. In his role, Brown will provide commercial guidance to the company's digital platform, Motorsport.com. Brown will consel Motorsport.com's worldwide opperations and the strategic business development of 15 int'l news bureaus (Motorsport.com). ... World Rugby appointed MIKE EARL as anti-doping GM. Earl joins World Rugby from UEFA and brings 15 years of experience in the implementation and management of intelligent and major event testing programs and the delivery of educational programs. He previously worked with both the FA and the UK National Anti-Doping Organization. Earl will head-up the federation's experienced anti-doping unit, responsible for the management of the compliance, intelligent testing, Athlete Biological Passport and Keep Rugby Clean programs which operate across the sport to protect clean athletes (World Rugby). ... Calgary Sports & Entertainment promoted Canadian Football League Stampeders GM & Coach JOHN HUFNAGEL to team president, replacing GORDON NORRIE, who will be “moving into a key behind-the-scenes job” as CS&E VP/sports properties, sales & marketing. A new position -- Stampeders director of business operations -- “has been created to assist Hufnagel with the business side of things” (CALGARY SUN, 1/27). ... Infront Sports & Media announced MA GUOLI is to leave the int'l sports marketing company at the end of March '16. He decided to step back from the role as chairman of the Infront China Board of Directors on his own accord, in order to pursue a new challenge in the Chinese media industry. DAVID YANG is to take over as exec chair of the Board of Directors of Infront China. The day-to-day business operations at the subsidiary will remain unchanged and continue under the charge of Managing Dir ANNE ZHAO (Infront).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Vietnam fired Japanese coach TOSHIYA MIURA on Thursday "after complaints about tough tactics and excessive physical demands on players, leaving the national team without a boss in the middle of a World Cup qualifying campaign." The Vietnam Football Federation said that "top officials unanimously agreed" to dispense with Miura, 52, who had not achieved the results they wanted. Miura's early exit comes after what local media said "were complaints by domestic clubs about players getting injured or exhausted while on national team duty" (REUTERS, 1/28). ... French Ligue 1 side Bastia Manager GHISLAIN PRINTANT was “dismissed from his post” on Thursday. The club announced that “he will be replaced” by his assistant FRANÇOIS CICCOLINI. Printant had been with Bastia since Nov. ’14, and now leaves the club 15th in the league, “just three points above the relegation zone” (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/28).
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