Executive Transactions: McLaren Formula 1 Hires Andreas Seidl

McLaren appointed German ANDREAS SEIDL as the new boss of its "struggling" Formula 1 team. Seidl's recruitment in the new role of managing director is "the latest in a series of management changes aimed at making McLaren competitive again" (BBC, 1/10). ... Ad agency The Romans appointed sports and lifestyle PR specialist PADDY HOBBS as an associate director. Hobbs was previously an associate director at W Communications, head of sport at Pretty Green and has also worked at Frank, Freuds and Cow PR. He brings experience leading campaigns for blue-chip brands, including Heineken, Maximuscle, Under Armour, Virgin Media, Three and Lynx (PR WEEK, 1/8). ... Activision Blizzard named Call of Duty EVP & GM ROB KOSTICH president of Activision, and CFO DENNIS DURKIN president of Activision Blizzard's Emerging Businesses. Kostich has served as franchise lead for Call of Duty for the last decade (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 1/9).