Featured image credit: Somerset CCC/TEG/PMY
Technology advisory, investment and delivery company PMY Group has appointed Mika Sulin as a global strategic adviser, with the role to focus on enhancing its global venue technology offering.
PMY said the arrival of Sulin (pictured right) marks a “formative moment” for the company’s growth and expansion throughout Europe. Sulin is a former professional ice hockey player with Finnish teams such as HPK and Helsingin Jokerit, and following his retirement he has held a string of roles across sports and venue development.
He played a key role in the growth of brands such as Salomon and Nike in the Nordics and Central & Eastern Europe, and in developing over 12 major arenas and stadiums, including Hartwall Arena in Helsinki and O2 Prague.
Sulin has also served as secretary general of the Finnish Olympic Committee, and as acting secretary general of the 2012 Ice Hockey World Championships. He most recently served as president of the Finnish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Back in 2017, Sulin achieved the Lifetime Achievement Award at TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit in Barcelona. He has also been involved in the development of Nokia Arena, which opened in the Finnish city of Tampere in 2021.
Paul Yeomans, PMY Group chief executive, said: “Mika’s extensive experience and innovative approach in the arena and stadium sector, coupled with his passion for sports and technology, make him a unique asset to PMY as we expand our global footprint. We are proud to have Mika on board to help grow our global strategic initiatives and expand our business in Europe.”
Sulin added: “I am very pleased to join the talented team at PMY, a company that aligns perfectly with my vision to bring greater innovation and sustainability to venue development. This role presents an exciting opportunity to leverage my experience in sports and venue development to drive leading-edge advancements for PMY and our clients across Northern Europe.”
In other news, Somerset County Cricket Club has named former club captain Jamie Cox as its new chief executive.
Cox (pictured left) replaces Gordon Hollins, who will leave the post at the end of March. The 54-year-old represented the club from 1999 to 2004 and has served as director of cricket and operations since September 2021.
Cox has previously held senior roles across several notable organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, Cricket Australia, the South Australia Cricket Association, Cricket Tasmania and St Kilda Football Club.
The Women’s Tennis Association has announced plans to separate the roles of chairman and chief executive, which are currently held by Steve Simon.
Once the position of chief executive has been filled, Simon will assume the role of executive chairman, overseeing governance, strategic interests of the WTA within the sport, integrity issues and the development of new markets.
Micky Lawler, who has served as WTA president since 2015, has also decided to leave the organisation at the end of the year to pursue new opportunities.
Live entertainment and ticketing company TEG has named Ticketek managing director Cameron Hoy as its new chief operating officer and head of global ticketing.
Hoy (pictured centre) will be responsible for oversight of numerous divisions across the business, including TEG’s data science, analytics and digital divisions, product and technology, and TEG’s global ticketing operations.
Major League Soccer team Houston Dynamo has promoted Jessica O’Neill to president of business operations, while Vanessa Scott and Lana Ramirez have been elevated to executive roles.
O’Neill will oversee all business operations for the club, as well as the Houston Dash NWSL team, Shell Energy Stadium and Houston Sports Park. She will report to majority owner and chairman Ted Segal. O’Neill joined the club in March 2022 after spending nine years with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and MLS team Charlotte FC.
Scott was recently elevated to chief operating officer and will also serve as chief financial officer for the Dynamo. She will oversee all administrative functions for the club, as well as facility operations.
Ramirez, who joined the team in 2015, was promoted to general manager of facility operations and will oversee the guest experience and stadium operations for all events at Shell Energy Stadium.
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.
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