Baseball
The Atlanta Braves transitioned Chief Financial Officer Chip Moore to executive vice president of minor league affiliates and strategic planning.
The Baltimore Orioles named Jennifer Grondahl director of corporate and community partnerships for Florida Operations and Adam Esselman coordinator of baseball information.
The Miami Marlins hired Chip Bowers as president of business operations. Bowers was chief marketing officer for the Golden State Warriors.
The Milwaukee Brewers hired Daniel Fumai as chief financial officer. Fumai was executive vice president of finance and chief operating officer for ANC Sports Enterprises.
The Texas Rangers promoted Josiah Igono to major league director of peak performance, and hired Andrew Koo as an analyst for baseball operations.
Minor League Baseball promoted Vincent Pierson to director of diversity and inclusion, Jess Schneider to manager of umpire operations and Meghan Madson to marketing coordinator; and hired Gerald Jones as vice president of business development and media, Mallory Roberts as senior digital marketing and communications manager, Melissa Giesler-Hassell as coordinator of trademarks and intellectual property and Jessica Nori as events and partnerships coordinator.
The Class AA Eastern League Akron RubberDucks promoted Sam Dankoff to director of premium experience; Jeff Campano to manager of merchandise; and Alex Hawks to manager of community relations; and hired Sara Varela as coordinator of promotions; David Bordonaro as director of corporate partnerships; Joe Mayanscik and Rik Segel as ticket sales executives; and Claudia Behrens, Anthony Chadwick, Sam Cranor, Ricky Hayden, Jacob Lambert and Ian Wilkinson as ticket associates.
The Class A Advanced California League Stockton Ports promoted Justice Hoyt to director of business development, and hired Vincent Zielen as a ticket sales account executive.
The United Shore Professional Baseball League hired Kyle England as a group sales account representative, Ryan Fuller as director of group sales, Jeremiah Hergott as director of client services, Lesley Kay as entertainment and promotions manager and Katie Page as graphics designer and marketing assistant.
Colleges
Davidson College Athletic Director Jim Murphy will move into a new role as athletic director emeritus and senior adviser to the president for finance and operations, effective July 1, 2018. Also, baseball coach Dick Cooke will step down after the 2018 season to become an associate athletic director at the college.
The University of Denver named Karlton Creech vice chancellor for athletics, recreation and Ritchie Center Operations, effective May 1, 2018. Creech was athletic director at the University of Maine.
The University of Pennsylvania promoted Brian “Rudy” Fuller to senior associate athletic director for intercollegiate programs.
The University of Pittsburgh promoted Lisa Auld to assistant athletic director for student life, and hired Lousaka Polite and John Pelusi as assistant athletic directors of the Varsity Letter Club and mentorship and Davis Hendrickson as assistant athletic director for premium sales and development.
Radford University hired Scott Davis as associate athletic director for advancement. Davis was director of major gifts for intercollegiate athletics for the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund.
Football
The Buffalo Bills hired Nate Breske as head athletic trainer, Luis Güílamo as director of analytics and Jeff Mueller as video director.
Hockey
ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna will step down this summer after 16 seasons in that position.
Law
Arent Fox hired Jennifer Pogorelec O’Sullivan as a sports partner in its New York office. She most recently led Hand Baldachin & Amburgey’s sports and entertainment group and was formerly commissioner for Women’s Professional Soccer.
Marketing
Ascendent promoted Peter Honig to senior vice president of consulting, Stephanie Marciano to vice president of consulting and Ryan Polun to director of business development. The firm named Julia LaVelle director of its integrated solutions group.
Creative Artists Agency hired Liz Gray to lead its cultural insights practice within its brand consulting division. Gray was chief mindset officer for The Female Quotient.
Excel Sports Management hired Eric Eways as vice president of business development. Eways was head of partnership sales in the Americas for City Football Group.
GMR Marketing promoted Tim Witmer to vice president of digital project management.
JP Sports + Entertainment promoted Dyan Bulyar to chief of staff.
LeadDog Marketing Group Director of Strategic Communications Melanie Wallner left the company and was replaced by Camille Currie.
Learfield hired Sarah Davis, Pat Flynn and Steve Leach executive directors of business development for its university partnership group.
rEvolution hired Mikel Hartman as senior vice president of operations.
Tom Kiely launched Tourism Sports Marketing International. Kiely was formerly chief executive officer and co-founder of XTERRA.
Media
Big Ten Network promoted Kim Beauvais to senior vice president of business operations and human resources.
Entertainment Studios hired Joshua Ross as executive director of Sports.TV. Ross was executive director of digital for Tennis Channel.
Gizmodo Media Group named Megan Greenwell editor-in-chief for Deadspin. Greenwell was executive features editor for Esquire.com.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired Chris Brearton as chief operating officer. Brearton was managing partner for Latham & Watkins’ entertainment, sports and media practice.
Motorsports
NASCAR named Steve Phelps executive vice president and chief global marketing, media and sales officer; Tim Clark vice president; Chris Davis vice president and chief security officer; Jon Tuck vice president and chief revenue officer for NASCAR and NASCAR Digital Media; John Tripp NDM managing director of business development; and Blake Davidson vice president of consumer innovation.
Iowa Speedway hired David Hyatt as president. Hyatt was president of The Motor Racing Network, and replaces Jimmy Small, who was named NASCAR’s senior director of international business development and partnerships.
National Hot Rod Association Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Graham Light will retire at the end of 2018, after 34 years with the organization. The organization will promote Josh Peterson to fill Light’s position, and hire Ned Walliser as vice president of competition.
Olympics
USA Archery named Rod Menzer chief executive officer.
Soccer
The New York Red Bulls promoted Darren Meyer to senior director of marketing partnerships and premium services, Logan Smith to director of strategy and analytics and DJ McCaffery to senior manager of facility operations; and hired Tom Bowden as senior director of ticket sales and service and Justin Baier as senior manager of marketing.
The USL hired Brad Baker as vice president of broadcasting. Baker was senior director of video production for Minnesota United.
Sporting Goods and Apparel
Foot Locker named John Shumate vice president of marketing for Eastbay. Shumate was director of water+ strategy and innovation for PepsiCo.
The Nicklaus Companies named Howard Milstein executive chairman.
Awards and Boards
The Sports Turf Managers Association named Sarah Martin president, Jody Gill president-elect, Tim VanLoo immediate past president, Jimmy Simpson secretary and treasurer, Boyd Montgomery vice president of commercial, Jason Kruse academic director, Nick McKenna higher education director, James Bergdoll director of parks and recreation and Matt Anderson elected-at-large director. Newly appointed board members include Weston Appelfeller, Tom Nielsen and Randy Price.
Other
McDonald’s USA hired Kenny Mitchell as vice president of brand content and Lizette Williams as head of cultural engagement. Mitchell was head of consumer engagement for Gatorade, and Williams was multicultural marketing leader for Kimberly-Clark North America.
The Professional Fighters League hired Peter Murray as chief executive officer. Murray was vice president of global brand and sports marketing for Under Armour.
Nationwide promoted Jim McCoy to associate vice president of sports marketing and sponsorships.
Sports Facilities Advisory promoted Ashley Whittaker to vice president of business development and marketing.
SwimOutlet.com named Bill Pond president. Pond was senior vice president of e-commerce, international and direct to business for L.L. Bean.
Alliance MMA promoted Ira Rainess to president.
Alterra Mountain Co. named Rusty Gregory chief executive officer.
People news
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