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Industry appointments round-up: HOK, BOCS Entertainment, Arena Alliance and more

This week’s appointments round-up includes a number of changes at architecture firm HOK, along with news involving Banc of California Stadium, Weezevent, Arena Alliance and much more.

Former Twickenham Stadium director Richard Knight has moved on from tech consultants PMY after 20 months to join HOK as a senior sports consultant. Knight (pictured below) said: “Combining my experience with the global design and planning expertise of HOK is innovative and exciting – and will provide our clients with venues that are not only inspiring but operationally efficient and commercially robust.”

HOK has also announced that founder Larry Malcic will be retiring from the firm after a three-decade career as design principal in its London studio. Malcic will transition to a consulting role, with John Rhodes and David Weatherhead having been named as design principals in London.

Rhodes and Weatherhead will collaborate with the current directors to lead the studio. Rhodes is a director of HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice and joined its London studio in 2014. Weatherhead has designed a variety of projects across the globe and joined HOK in London in 2016 as a senior project designer. He is also a member of the firm’s design board.

Meanwhile, HOK has named Farrah Hassan-Hardwick as its marketing principal in London. She is working closely with the firm’s leaders to develop new business, while also serving clients in key markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.

After five years with Bristol Sport and Ashton Gate Stadium, Paul Lipscombe leaves to join the growing team at technology consulting firm PTI Consulting as lead technology consultant. PTI Consulting serves the sports and entertainment industry with pragmatic technological insight. Working with clubs, venues, tournament organisers and rights holders, PTI Consulting offers a rounded viewpoint of the sector and bring this to clients on a project or retained basis – offering a truly vendor agnostic position.

Jennifer Deiana has taken up a new role as a technology engagement partner at the English Football Association (FA). Deiana has been working in the digital sector for more than 16 years.

Martin Ingham has been named as deputy chairman at the National Arenas Association. Ingham previously served as chairman of the UK-based organisation, which serves as a forum for managers of concert and event venues with a minimum indoor seated capacity of 5,000.

Barry Baum has been promoted to chief communications officer at NBA basketball team the Milwaukee Bucks. He previously served as senior vice-president of communications at the team.

Alan Williams has started a new position as management consultant, advisor to the board at Eastbourne Borough Football Club.

David Pearce has been promoted to the position of managing director, Europe at Tessitura Network. He previously served as vice-chairman of the ticketing solutions firm.

Jordan Hayes has joined English Premier League football club Fulham as a marketing manager. Hayes (pictured below) joins Fulham after having spent four years at Championship club Queens Park Rangers, most recently serving as a digital marketing manager.

Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati has hired Dennis Carroll as its first chief operating officer. He joins the club after a 10-season stint with rival MLS club Philadelphia Union. FC Cincinnati is due to begin playing in MLS later this year.

Austin FC, the Texan city’s future MLS club, has named 15 individuals with several decades of combined experience to a range of newly-created positions. Hires include Clark Beacom as chief revenue officer, Avin Assomull as vice-president of sales and service, Jordan Enke as vice-president of stadium operations, Alison Roscoe as vice-president of corporate partnerships, Weston Appelfeller as senior director of grounds and Spencer Della as senior manager of ticket operations.

In another move involving an MLS club, Tim Bezbatchenko has been named as president of Columbus Crew. Bezbatchenko most recently served as Toronto FC’s senior vice-president of soccer operations and general manager.

Jill Przelenski has been appointed as vice-president of special event sales at Banc of California Stadium Entertainment, a division of the venue that serves as the home of MLS team Los Angeles FC. Billboard magazine notes that Przelenski will report to Ryan Northcott, senior vice-president of booking. She will oversee the booking, selling and operation of all special events at the stadium, which opened last year.

Jeff Nickler has taken up a new role as senior vice-president of the Arena Alliance for Oak View Group. Nickler joins the Arena Alliance from Tulsa’s BOK Center, where he served as general manager. Arena Alliance is a collaborative venture comprising 28 venues from across North America, including Madison Square Garden, Golden 1 Center and American Airlines Center.

Julien Piwowar has joined Elca, the company behind the SecuTix 360° ticketing engagement platform. Piwowar will run a new entity for Elca known as Tixngo, which will cover blockchain solutions and technologies for the ticketing sector.

Ticketing and cashless payment solutions firm Weezevent has named Oliver Goddard as its new country manager for its British office. Goddard, the former head of ticketing, touring and festivals at Global Festivals/Broadwick Live, joins the French company as it continues its development in the UK.

Main image courtesy of HOK. Pictured (from L-R): Andrew Childs, director of finance; Farrah Hassan-Hardwick, marketing principal; Daniel Hajjar, managing principal; David Weatherhead, design principal; John Rhodes, design principal.

Do you have news of an appointment that we should know about? Get in touch by emailing news.editor@thestadiumbusiness.com and we’ll include it on our next round-up.