Featured image credit: ASM Global/AECOM
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has announced that he will not be considering an extension of his term when it expires next year.
Bach will ask the IOC executive board to schedule an election for March 2025, with the beginning of the new president’s mandate slated for June 24, 2025.
Bach has served as IOC president since September 2013, when he replaced Jacques Rogge. He announced his impending departure on the penultimate day of the Paris Olympics.
ASM Global has appointed Ed Sanderson as executive vice-president of business development for Europe.
Sanderson (pictured right) has been leading the development of ASM Global’s Asian business over the past three years, working on projects such as Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. ASM Global said his transition to its European division marks a “pivotal moment” for the company.
ASM Global has also appointed long-time executive Ralph Marchetta to the position of regional vice-president of live entertainment.
Marchetta previously served as general manager and senior vice-president of Footprint Center, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. He will now oversee booking at Desert Diamond Arena and the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium, and will also play a key role in ASM Global’s “content-development matrix”.
Staying with ASM Global, the company has promoted Melissa Wasson to general manager of State Farm Stadium.
Wasson (pictured centre) has spent the past 13 years as assistant general manager of the venue, leading ASM Global’s stadium management team in overseeing the day-to-day and event operations for the facility. Wasson joined the stadium staff ahead of its official opening in 2006.
The Jockey Club has announced the appointment of Guy Lavender as chief executive of Cheltenham Racecourse.
Lavender joins Cheltenham Racecourse from Marylebone Cricket Club, where he has served as chief executive and secretary since 2017. He previously served as London 2012 director for the South West and managing director of Wave Hub, a renewable energy project in Cornwall.
Lavender will take up his new role in early 2025 and he is set to work alongside Cheltenham managing director Ian Renton to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities ahead of next year’s Cheltenham Festival. Renton will remain involved at Cheltenham in an advisory capacity.
Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM has appointed Martin Robinson as principal and senior architect for the company’s sports practice.
Robinson (pictured left) will be based in the UK and will support the company’s growth strategy across the country and the rest of Europe.
Robinson has served as a technical advisor for the London 2012 venues and the soon-to-be completed Everton stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. He joins AECOM from MEIS Architects, having previously served as managing director of KSS for 24 years.
Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) has announced the appointment of Josh Blank as vice-president of executive strategy.
Blank will join AMBSE on August 15 and will report to company president Tim Zulawski. He most recently spent four years at the NFL office in New York.
In his new role, he will work with Zulawski on strategy and execution of major business initiatives across the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Blank will play a major role in the execution of events such as the 2025 College Football National Championship and 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nick Hockley has announced that he will be stepping down as chief executive of Cricket Australia after the upcoming season.
Hockley has spent almost 13 years working in Australian cricket. He was appointed interim chief executive of Cricket Australia in June 2020 before taking on the role permanently 11 months later.
Hockley served as general manager of commercial and marketing for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia, and was also chief executive of the local organising committee for the T20 World Cup in 2020.
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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