Italian soccer giant Juventus have elected Gianluca Ferrero as their new president following the Serie A club’s latest shareholder meeting on 18th January.
The 59-year-old will lead the club’s new board of directors, following the mass resignation of former president Andrea Agnelli and entire previous board in November amid an ongoing police investigation into the club’s ‘salary manoevers’ between 2019 and 2021.
The Bianconeri’s new-look board comprises chief executive Maurizio Scanavino, who is joined by directors Fioranna Vittoria Negri, Diego Pistone and Laura Cappiello.
“Together with the board of directors elected today and the new chief executive officer, we will work to build a future for Juventus that is worthy of its past, a glorious past spanning 125 years that has led this club to sporting glory and to become the strongest Italian football club,” Ferrero said.
“As you know, challenges await us in the coming months and that we as the board of directors believe we have the experience, competence and determination to defend Juventus and our team in front all the competent institutions, whether criminal, sporting or civil.”
Elsewhere, media giant Netflix has announced that co-founder and co-chief executive Reed Hastings will step down from his role, henceforth serving as executive chairman. The company’s chief operating officer Greg Peters will succeed Hastings as co-chief executive, serving alongside Ted Sarandos.
Meanwhile, Helen MacNamara has left her role as the Premier League’s head of policy and corporate affairs, following an extensive period of sick leave after an accident at her home. According to The Times, the former senior civil servant’s decision to step away is not related to her involvement and subsequent fine for breaking Covid-19 lockdown rules at a party held in Downing Street. MacNamara is said to be departing from English soccer’s top-flight to spend more time with her family.
In other news, Gina Brogi and Rob Fyfe have been appointed to the board of New Zealand Rugby Commercial (NZRC), the entity established by the national rugby union body following its NZ$200 million (US$128.55 million) investment from US private equity firm Silver Lake. The new appointments will join New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chair Dame Patsy Reddy, deputy chair Bailey Mackey, and chief executive Mark Robinson, on the board chaired by Seek Limited chief executive Ian Narev.
Staying in the Oceania region, Melbourne-based agency MKTG Sports & Entertainment have hired Ollio Oxenham as the company’s senior commercial manager and Vicki Brown as senior sponsorship manager.
Appointments
Maikel Oettle
Chief commercial officer, AC Milan
Previously: Sponsorship sales director, AC Milan
Matt Goodman
Chief commercial director, Dallas Mavericks
Previously: President of franchises, LIV Golf
Nina Tsimpouli
Head of sports operations, DACH, TikTok
Previously: Director of global content marketing, DFL Digital
Leslie Berland
Chief marketing officer, Peloton
Previously: Chief marketing officer, Twitter
Alberto Horta
Senior vice president and managing director, DACH, IMG
Previously: Deputy general manager, vice president for commercial development, Warner Bros Discovery
John Roth
Chief operating officer, Pegula Sports & Entertainment and the Buffalo Sabres
Note: Terry Pegula, the owner of Pegula Sports, appointed Roth after his wife Kim, also a co-owner, was hospitalised in June for an undisclosed health issue.
Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson
Co-chair, Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Note: Thompson replaces Lord Patel, who was brought in to oversee the club’s response to the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.
Henry Lescaille
Chief people and culture officer, United States Tennis Association (USTA)
Previously: Vice President, people experience & strategic operation, Sony Music
Mace Aluia
Vice president of commercial partnerships, Detroit Lions
Previously: Vice President of corporate partnership sales & activation, AMB Sports & Entertainment
Maggy Carlyle
Senior vice president of legal affairs and general counsel, Detroit Lions
Previously: General counsel and senior vice president, Pac-12
Chris Voigt
Senior vice president of corporate partnerships, Seattle Mariners
Previously: Senior vice president of strategic partnerships, Whoop
Jessica Holscott
Chief financial officer, Authentic Brands Group
Previously: Executive vice president ad chief financial officer of studios and networks, WarnerMedia
Nick Young
Commercial director, digital, Nine Network
Previously: Chief commercial officer, NOVA Entertainment
Charlie Boss
Chief commercial officer, Southampton
Previously: Chief commercial officer, The Jockey Club
Siobhan Prior and Mark Clark
Board members, Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL)
Note: The league is looking to appoint two independent directors in early 2023, as the WBBL targets further growth under a revamped board.
Andy Low
Director of content, Asia-Pacific (APAC), BeIN Sport
Previously: Broadcast and OTT, audiovisual, Sportradar
Conor Grant
Chairman, Racecourse Media Group
Previously: Chief executive, Flutter
Brian Huss
Vice president of product, Buzzer
Previously: Product vice president, fantasy games, FanDuel
Departures
Andrea Zappia
Chief executive of new markets and businesses, Sky Italia