STATS promoted RYAN PATERSON to chief global officer. Paterson most recently served as the managing director of EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions for the sports data and intelligence company. He will oversee all of STATS' operations outside of the U.S. and be responsible for managing and directing the company's int'l strategy STATS). ... The England & Wales Cricket Board is set to appoint ED SMITH as the new national selector for England cricket. The former England int'l, who works as a broadcaster on Test Match Special and writes for the Sunday Times, will replace JAMES WHITAKER "as part of a shake-up of selection structure and personnel." ANGUS FRASER and MICK NEWELL, the other selectors, "will also leave their roles" (LONDON TIMES, 4/18). ... Sources said that Nike Basketball North America Senior Brand Dir VIKRANT SINGH and VP/Global Brand Digital Marketing Innovation DANIEL TAWIAH were "forced to leave the company." The moves "were abrupt" and it was not "immediately clear what led to their departures." Tawiah and Singh had "more than a decade of experience at Nike" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/18).
COACHES/MANAGERS: League One side Fleetwood Town appointed JOEY BARTON as head coach from June 2. The club has been under the caretaker management of JOHN SHERIDAN since sacking UWE RÖSLER on Feb. 17. The 35-year-old's 18-month ban from football for breaching FA regulations on gambling will end on June 1. It will be Barton's first managerial role (London TELEGRAPH, 4/18).