Mark Jenkins has retired from his role as chief executive of newly promoted Premier League football club West Bromwich Albion and will be replaced by executive director Xu ‘Ken’ Ke.
Jenkins (pictured) is stepping down following a combined 18 years at the club over two terms. Ken has been working closely alongside Jenkins since 2018.
The announcement comes ahead of West Brom’s return to the top-tier Premier League in 2020-21 after the club finished second in the Championship last season. Ken will work closely alongside technical director Luke Dowling and the rest of the club’s senior management.
Jenkins said: “I had informed the owners before lockdown that I would be leaving at the end of the season. If we were unsuccessful then I felt it was appropriate that somebody else take the reins to ensure this great club return to where it should be, but if we did achieve the target then my role would come to a natural and positive conclusion.
“Ken has built a strong working relationship with the club’s senior management team and I have every confidence they will transition smoothly to tackle the challenges of the summer and beyond.”
Phil Kearns has been named executive director of Australia’s bid for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Kearns won the World Cup twice as a player for Australia and will lead the bid team in engaging with federal, state and local governments, as well as international stakeholders.
Australia is the strong favourite to land hosting rights to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with nearest rival Argentina having dropped out of the race. Kearns will start the role on September 7 and report to Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan.
Richard FitzGerald has stepped down as chief executive of Racecourse Media Group, the media and data rights holding company for leading racecourses in the UK and Ireland.
FitzGerald steps down after nearly 12 years in the position and the news comes following RMG’s recent contract renewal with UK commercial broadcaster ITV until 2023. FitzGerald will step down gradually over the next six months, with RMG finance director Martin Stevenson to serve as acting chief executive.
FitzGerald said: “It has been a fabulous and rewarding 12 years working for RMG. The business has flourished and delivered on the vision of the founding shareholders around a collective approach to commercialising their media and data rights.”
The International Tennis Federation’s Grand Slam Board has announced that director Bill Babcock will retire from the role at the end of 2020.
Babcock has worked in the role since the board’s inception as the Grand Slam Committee in 1989. The board serves as the representative body of tennis’ four grand slams and is responsible for the coordination and management of activities of mutual interest to the tournaments.
Basketball Australia has announced that the local organising committee for the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in the country will be chaired by David Reid.
Reid is a principal lawyer with Newcastle-based firm DWF. He currently serves as deputy chair of Basketball Australia and is an elected member of the FIBA World Central Board.
Reid will oversee the delivery of the World Cup, which will take place at Sydney Olympic Park over 10 days in September and October 2022.
Football Federation Australia has confirmed that Jane Fernandez will continue in her role as head of its 2023 Women’s World Cup office.
Fernandez served as general manager of Australia’s successful bid to co-host the national team tournament alongside New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand edged out Colombia for hosting rights.
The WWE wrestling organisation has named Nick Khan, the former co-head of television at Creative Arts Agency (CAA), as its new president and chief revenue officer.
Khan will report directly to WWE chairman and chief executive Vince McMahon. Khan is a former practicing attorney and in 2006 moved to International Creative Management, where he launched the company’s sports media department.
Khan moved to CAA in 2012 and served as co-head of its television department.
Adidas chief executive Kasper Rorsted has extended his stay at the German sportswear company until July 31, 2026.
Rorsted has served on the Adidas executive board since August 2016 and was named chief executive in October that year.
Image: West Bromwich Albion
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