Greg KirkorskyPerform
Perform, DAZN Group’s sports content business, named GREG KIRKORSKY EVP for Americas. Kirkorsky led STATS LLC for the past 20 years as senior VP of sales & global partnerships. He helped transition STATS from a U.S. sports data provider to a global leader in sports analytics, content and software. Kirkorsky said, "It's an exciting time to join Perform, particularly in the Americas region, as we’re sitting on a wealth of data and content" (Perform). ... The MLB Baltimore Orioles named Cleveland Indians Dir of Latin American Scouting KOBY PEREZ senior director of int’l scouting. He will report to Exec VP & GM MIKE ELIAS (Orioles). ... Alibaba Group announced Alisports Founder & CEO ZHANG DAZHONG stepped down as the CEO of Alisports as his contract has come to an end. He will “continue to serve as one of the directors and as a consultant for Alisports.” DAI WEI -- currently the GM of the Alibaba-owned media platform Youku's sports & children division -- was named CEO of Alisports. He will retain "his titles and responsibilities at Youku" (YUTANG SPORTS, 1/3). ... Netflix is "expected to name" Activision Blizzard CFO SPENCER NEUMANN to the same position. Activision Blizzard said that it was putting Neumann on "paid leave and that he would subsequently be fired for cause unrelated to the company's financial reporting or disclosure procedures." Activision Blizzard announced Chief Corporate Officer DENNIS DURKIN will "take over" as CFO (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/2). ... DAZN hired Apple's BEN KING as SVP for global distribution & business development with "a brief to help drive its expansion around the world." King will join the sports streaming service in February (BROADCAST NOW, 1/3).
COACHES/MANAGERS: National Rugby League side Cronulla Sharks named JOHN MORRIS the "lone interim coach" of the club. Morris and fellow assistant JIM DYMOCK were appointed caretakers when former Manager SHANE FLANAGAN was "sensationally de-registered by the NRL" for dealing with the club while suspended in '14 (AAP, 1/3). ... Argentine club Boca Juniors hired GUSTAVO ALFARO as its new coach to replace GUILLERMO BARROS SCHELOTTO, who joined MLS side L.A. Galaxy. Alfaro left Huracán in December and was formally introduced to fans at a press conference in Buenos Aires (REUTERS, 1/2).
