The European Tour announced GUY KINNINGS will join the organization as deputy CEO and Ryder Cup director, reporting to CEO KEITH PELLEY. Kinnings has been with IMG since '89 and currently serves as its SVP and chair of golf (European Tour). ... Modern Times Group announced new leadership team appointments, which include PETER NØRRELUND, who joined DreamHack as co-CEO alongside current CEO MARCUS LINDMARK. Nørrelund will also serve as MTG's head of product development and incubation (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 5/16). ... The Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby announced Bristol Bears Chair CHRIS BOOY will become chair of the Professional Game Board on Aug. 1. The appointment is for a two-year term. Booy will replace JEFF BLACKETT (Bristol Rugby). ... MERVYN DAVIES was appointed chair of the Lawn Tennis Association and will succeed DAVID GREGSON at the end of September. Like Gregson, Davies comes from a business rather than sporting background and also "held several ministerial positions in the last Labour Government." He is currently partner and chair of private equity firm Corsair Capital, chair of investment business LetterOne, senior independent director at Diageo and chair of the trustees of the Royal Academy Trust (London INDEPENDENT, 5/17). ... Esports tournament host Gfinity promoted GARRY COOK from non-exec director to exec chair, with immediate effect. TONY COLLYER, Gfinity's previous chair, will step down after four years on the board (ALLIANCE NEWS, 5/17). ... DENISE BARRETT-BAXENDALE was confirmed as EPL side Everton's new CEO. She joined Everton in the Community in '10 as CEO before being promoted to COO at the club and deputy CEO in '13 (WOMEN IN FOOTBALL, 5/15).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Ligue 1 side Nantes announced Manager CLAUDIO RANIERI left the club by mutual consent. The Italian joined the club in June ’17 after he was fired from EPL side Leicester City (Nantes). ... Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, which was relegated to the League Championship for next season, will appoint DARREN MOORE as manager following his "successful stint in interim charge." Moore took over in April following the sacking of ALAN PARDEW (London GUARDIAN, 5/17).
