Appointments

People on the move: CAA Icon’s Romani takes up AC Milan role

Featured image credit: Simone Daino on Unsplash

Tim Romani, the founder and chairman of the CAA Icon agency, has taken up a new supervisory role with Italian Serie A football club AC Milan to support its plans for a new stadium.

According to the Calcio e Finanza website, Romani has been appointed by the club and its ownership group, RedBird Capital Partners and will maintain a consultancy relationship with CAA Sports.

The news comes after it was reported last month that Milan had appointed CAA Icon to support its efforts to build a new stadium without cross-city rival Inter Milan. The two parties have launched a survey to better understand fans’ match-day habits and preferences.

Romani said: “My family is from a small town in Emilia-Romagna called Fanano, south of Modena, not far from Monte Cimone and I love my Italian heritage. My great-grandfather Cleto Romani left Genoa for Ellis Island in the early 1900s. At the same time, I am a stadium builder and Italy is in desperate need of modern stadiums.

“Thus, sharing with (founder and managing partner of RedBird) Gerry Cardinale his inspiring vision to create a stadium that projects Milan into a future ever more worthy of its great history, I want to dedicate my experience and expertise to making it possible. Later we will see what else can be done to help lift all of Serie A and make it shine again among the elite leagues in Europe.

“This great vision is what prompted me to leave the company of which I have been founder and CEO for the past 20 years, and with which relations remain mutually excellent.”

Last month, Milan, which currently plays at the San Siro (pictured), confirmed Ippodromo Snai La Maura, an equestrian and horse racing facility located close to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, as its targeted site for a new stadium.

In other news, Major League Soccer team LA Galaxy has appointed Will Misselbrook as its first-ever chief creative and content officer.

Misselbrook will oversee all content, creative, marketing, digital development and innovation strategy. This will include defining the vision for the brand, developing innovative and authentic storytelling and experiences across all platforms, and building unique fan experiences and partnership opportunities for the club and its home stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park.

He joins LA Galaxy after two seasons with the NFL’s Washington Commanders, where he served as chief creative and digital officer.

British Cycling has named Jon Dutton as its new chief executive.

Dutton served as chief executive of last year’s Rugby League World Cup in England and will begin his new role later this month. His previous cycling experience includes working as director of readiness for the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire.

Dutton is a board member of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which will take place in Glasgow and across Scotland. He has previously worked for the Rugby Football League, UEFA and the PGA European Tour.

Live Nation Entertainment has elected Rich Paul to its board of directors.

Paul is the founder and chief executive of Klutch Sports Group and head of sports at United Talent Agency, where he also serves on the board. Paul represents some of the world’s top athletes, including NBA star LeBron James.

US college sports conference Big Ten has named Tony Petitti as its new commissioner.

Petitti, who formerly served as chief operating officer at Major League Baseball, will begin his new role on May 15. He has previously worked with the MLB Network, ABC Sports and CBS.

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 in our next round-up.