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People: Executive transactions

Baseball
Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella resigned.

TASHOMBE
RICHARDSON
SPRAGUE
The Cincinnati Reds hired Jacqueline Sprague and Todd Richardson as corporate partnerships managers. Sprague was an account executive for WKRC-TV, and Richardson was a senior account executive for Pandora.

The Oakland Athletics promoted Taj Tashombe to vice president of external affairs to head their new ballpark development effort.

The Class A Carolina League hired Geoff Lassiter as president, effective Jan. 1. Lassiter was president of the league’s Winston-Salem Dash.

The Class A Carolina League’s Winston-Salem (N.C.) Dash promoted C.J. Johnson to president and general manager.

The Class A California League’s Stockton (Calif.) Ports promoted Taylor McCarthy to assistant general manager.

Basketball
The Oklahoma City Thunder promoted Will Dawkins to vice president of identification and intelligence, Marc St. Yves to vice president of logistics and engagement, Matt Tumbleson to vice president of basketball communications and engagement, Donald Strack to vice president of human and player performance, Paul Rivers to chief of staff, Amanda Green to director of information management and counsel, Wynn Sullivan to director of strategic planning, Jesse Gould to director of pro evaluation, Ayana Lawson to director of community and lifestyle services, and Oliver Winterbone to director of player development, and hired Rob Hennigan as vice president of insight and foresight. Hennigan was general manager for the Orlando Magic.

The Orlando Magic named David Tenney high performance director. Tenney held the same post for the Seattle Sounders FC.

The NBA G League Texas Legends promoted Brittany Payne to vice president of operations, Kyle Judkins to vice president of digital media and broadcast production, Blake Armstrong to vice president, Matt Morales to assistant general manager, Byron Bogar to assistant general manager, Britney Wynn to vice president of media relations, Blaine Morris to senior director of corporate sponsorship, Chris Crump to senior director of business development, and Kevin Phillips to senior director of group sales. The team hired Tamishia Moats and Nick Sandall as directors of business development.

The Cleveland Cavaliers named Nic Barlage president of business operations, Tad Carper executive vice president of communications, Mozelle Jackson executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer, Tracy Marek executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Brad Sims executive vice president/chief revenue officer and franchise operations, and Mike Conley senior vice president and chief information officer.

The Sacramento Kings named Peja Stojakovic vice president of basketball and team development, Joelle Terry senior vice president of communications, Bill Pope director of pro personnel, Mark Toyoda senior manager of basketball administration, Melanie Stocking manager of basketball operations, Robbie Lemons basketball operations coordinator, Akachi Okugo player development coordinator, Ramsey Nijem head performance and strength coach, Aung Aye manual therapist and assistant athletic trainer, Penny Chatzis executive assistant to the general manager and player services administrator, and Galen Duncan vice president of the Kings Academy and professional development. Anthony McClish was named director of basketball operations and general manager of the team’s G League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, and Ernest DeLosAngeles head strength and conditioning coach for the Reno Bighorns.

Colleges
Alabama State University Athletic Director Melvin Hines resigned.

The University of Alabama Birmingham hired Trey Frazier as associate athletic director for development. Frazier was director of development for annual giving at Virginia Tech.

The College of Charleston promoted Laura Lageman to senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator, Otto German to associate athletic director for compliance; Kate Tiller to assistant athletic director for student-athlete academic services; Weston Ijames to assistant athletic director for business operations; J.B. Weber to director of compliance; and Kelly Mottola to director of ticket operations.

Columbia University hired Mike Miller as associate athletic director for marketing strategy. Miller was associate athletic director for external relations at Wagner College.

Concordia University, Portland, hired Jessica Harbison Weaver as associate athletic director for compliance and academic support and senior woman administrator. Harbison Weaver was assistant athletic director for compliance at the University of California, Riverside.

Don DiJulia, Saint Joseph’s University vice president and athletic director, will retire at the end of the academic year.

Eastern Michigan University hired Sean McCarthy as assistant director of compliance. McCarthy was a compliance coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Hofstra University hired Samantha Hegmann as assistant athletic director for NCAA education and compliance services. Hegmann was assistant director for compliance at Monmouth University.

Johns Hopkins University hired Jennifer Baker as senior associate athletic director. Baker was senior manager of corporate real estate, facilities and operations for Under Armour.

Wagner College hired Greg Cusick as assistant athletic director for external relations.

Combat Sports
UFC hired Paul Asencio as senior vice president of global partnerships. Asencio was vice president of venue business development for Fanatics.

Facilities

TEAHAN
TOWNSELL
Delaware North hired Timothy Townsell as general manager of Massachusetts Sportservice at TD Garden and Richard Teahan as TD Garden’s director of security. Townsell was general manager at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for Levy Restaurants, and Teahan was a supervisory special agent for the FBI.

Golf
PGA Tour executive Charlie Zink retired.

Ken May, Topgolf chief executive officer of U.S. venue operations, retired.

The World Golf Foundation hired James Cramer as vice president of communications. Cramer was vice president of communications for the PGA Tour.

Hockey

HOOF
The Arizona Coyotes hired Tom Hoof as vice president of marketing. Hoof was chief marketing officer and vice president of marketing and communications at the University of South Florida.

The Carolina Hurricanes hired Tom Ward as senior vice president of brand, community and partnership development.

Law
Bobby Hacker launched his own law firm and sports media consulting agency. Hacker was Fox Sports vice president of business and legal affairs.

Marketing
Octagon hired William Mao as vice president of media rights consulting. Mao was vice president of digital for MP & Silva.

Media

STAINER
Nielsen Sports promoted Jon Stainer to managing director for the Americas, Scott Horowitz to senior vice president of revenue and new business for the Americas and Stephen Master to global head of federations. Managing Director of North America Peter Laatz will leave the business at the end of the year.

Soccer
MLS hired Diego Moratorio as general manager of MLS Canada. Moratorio was director of marketing for Coca-Cola Canada.

MILLER
JANNETTA
FC Dallas promoted Melissa Jannetta to vice president of business development and Megan Miller to vice president of partnership marketing.

Other
Oak View Group hired former Billboard editor Andy Gensler as executive editor of its media and conferences division.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency hired Brad Horn as communications and media relations director. Horn was vice president for communications and education for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Amateur cycling event series Haute Route hired Micah Rice as head of operations for North America. Rice was vice president of national events for USA Cycling.

MENEFEE
GODFREY
GORE
PALERMO
Drug Free Sport hired Alisha Palermo as manager of collector development, training and certification; Justin Gore as specialist of quality assurance; and Trent Godfrey as professional manager of professional sports drug testing.

Luker on Trends promoted Chad Menefee to senior partner.

Awards and Boards
Oilers Entertainment Group and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation named Janet Riopel board chair for the EOCF.

People news
To have your personnel announcements included in the People section, please send information and photos to Brandon McClung at 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202, or email them to careers@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Electronic photos must be a jpg or tiff file for Macintosh, 2.25 inches wide at 300 dpi. Color only, please. News items may also be sent via fax to (704) 973-1401. If you have questions, call (704) 973-1425.


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