JOSU URRUTIA will step down as president of La Liga side Athletic Bilbao at the end of the year. Urrutia said on Wednesday that he will not participate in the club's presidential election scheduled for Dec. 27. He has been president of the club since July '11 (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 11/7). ... MIKE SHARROCK was appointed CEO of the British Paralympic Association. He will succeed TIM HOLLINGSWORTH, who is taking up the role as CEO at Sport England (BPA). ... Nielsen Sports & Entertainment Regional Head of Consulting and Global Head of Consulting, Brand & Sponsorship MICHAEL LYNCH is stepping down after five years with the company to pursue other interests. He joined the firm in '14, and during his time with Nielsen, Lynch helped build the company's global consulting practice, integrating that unit and its acquisition of Repucom into Nielsen Sports. Nielsen is looking to collaborate with Lynch on future projects (THE DAILY).
POPULOUS PROMOTIONS: Populous promoted the following: BRETT WIGHTMAN (Singapore), LYLE MILLER (K.C.), SHAUN FERNANDES (London) and SIMON JORDAN (London) to senior principal; AL BAXTER (Sydney), JAMES PEARCE (Brisbane), JAMES SMITH (Brisbane), JASON CARMELLO (K.C.), GEOFF CHEONG (K.C.), NORMAN FRIEDMAN (K.C.) and MICHELLE NICHOLLS-SHAW (London) to principal; and ANDREW NOONAN (Brisbane), MATT REYNOLDS (Sydney), BILL BOURNE (K.C.), JASON GARDNER (K.C.), KEVIN KOCH (K.C.), MEGGAN LUX (Tokyo), BRIDGET OTT (Denver), BOBBY SLOAN (Denver) and PAUL GOODALL (London) to associate principal (Populous).
COACHES/MANAGERS: National Rugby League side Gold Coast lured Australian national rugby team coach MAL MENINGA to the club as head of performance & culture. Meninga will begin immediately in the role after he relocates with his family from Canberra on a three-year contract. Meninga will remain Australia's coach as he "balances his new role," which will include mentoring second-year NRL coach GARTH BRENNAN. Gold Coast Chair DENNIS WATT said that Meninga will be used "across the business both on and off the field" (AAP, 11/6). ... FA Women’s Super League side Everton Ladies sacked head coach ANDY SPENCE with the club winless and in last place. Spence's second stint in charge of the club "came to an end" three days after the club's loss to Yeovil Town Ladies. Goalkeeper coach JENNIFER HERST was named Spence’s interim replacement (BBC, 11/7).
