Havas S&E COO Jérôme de Chaunac Moves to New York to Grow North American Market

Havas Sports & Entertainment , stomach the global brand engagement network of the Havas Group, has today announced that Global COO, Jérôme de Chaunac, will oversee global operations from his new base of New York City.

This move is a continuation of the strategic development of the network internationally which has seen a reorganization of its Global team, after President & Global CEO Lucien Boyer’s relocation to London at the beginning of the year. 

Jérôme will maintain his global role which focuses on developing the network of 35 offices in 24 countries, as well as pushing commercial growth and partnerships. Havas SE’s global network is part of the Havas Media Group and delivers a variety of sports & entertainment services including strategy, research, brand communication, activation, SoMe, content and live experience.  

While maintaining his current reporting into Lucien Boyer and managing the Havas SE global team, whose members are based in Paris, London, NY, Atlanta and Sao Paulo , Jérôme’s move will particularly help to bolster the network’s presence in the North America.

Havas SE counts offices in four US cities: Havas SE in Miami and ignition in Atlanta, Chicago and New York City.  Acquired by Havas SE in 2012, ignition is an industry leader in experiential marketing, delivering fully integrated experiences that drive positive actions and attitudes between people and brands.   

In addition, Jérôme will provide global support to Havas SE’s Latin American operations; Havas SE is a leader in the region with offices in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru  as well as two in Brazil where most recently, teams have delivered successful activations around the FIFA World Cup for a number of official partners and affiliates including The Coca-Cola Company, Hyundai-Kia, and Louis Vuitton. 

Commenting on this new development, Jérôme said: “I am thrilled to extend our global presence to New York City, which is an epicenter for sports and entertainment in the US. North & South America are key regions for Havas SE where we have had tremendous growth over the last three years.

We began to extend our footprint in North America with the acquisition of ignition a couple of years ago, and my move closer to our regional teams was the next logical step to grow our offer, with a particular focus of bringing our full sponsorship consulting services to North America, to take advantage of all of the opportunities present.”

Platini Decides Against Running for FIFA Presidency

UEFA President Michel Platini has ended speculation over running for the FIFA presidency after revealing he will not run for the position.

The Frenchman told the 54 member associations of the continental body, meeting in Monaco ahead of tonight’s Champions League draw, that he wants another term as UEFA president. The elections are in March 2015.

The 59-year-old had considered running for the top job in world football, with speculation fuelled about a possible bid in June when he withdrew support for Blatter’s election push, claiming he reneged on a promise to step down in 2015.

The decision paves the way for Sepp Blatter’s bid to be re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA President. He has been in the role since 1998.

Platini said after the meeting: “This is the decision I have made. It is about what I want to do with Uefa.

“Now is not my time, not yet. I want to complete what I have started and I want to go to the end of my contract with UEFA and if the federations wish I will still have a few years before this contract comes to an end.

“I have thought long and hard but I never managed to convince myself that I had to go to FIFA.

“I chose from the heart and on the basis of my passionate feeling.”

FIFA executive committee member Michel D’Hooghe welcomed Platini’s decision not to oppose Blatter. He said: “It was a very positive message. He said he would like to continue as Uefa president and I am pleased that it means that this time there will be no battle between Fifa and Uefa.”

Platini and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb would be among likely candidates to contest the 2019 FIFA presidential election.

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World Bowling Expands Digital Presence

World Bowling has expanded its digital presence with the launch of a new website and various social media channels. 

World Bowling, and the federation that now unites all of international bowling under one name, aims to connect international bowlers worldwide, while also developing new global fans.

To support these efforts, the federation has increased its digital presence with the launch of a new website (www.worldbowling.org) and several social media channels (including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter).

The website will act as the central hub for the Bowling community which consists of hundreds of millions of bowlers worldwide. World Bowling is set to encourage interaction and sharing within this active community.

Kevin Dornberger, President of World Bowling, commented: “We are very excited by the opportunities that this website will provide for the Bowling community from all around the world. We are committed to engaging with the Bowling community as we develop and enter a new era for international Bowling. Our new website and our social media activities represent the first steps of how we will unite the sport of bowling worldwide.”

Toronto 2015 Building Program to Come Under Budget

Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games organisers have released their four-quarter financial report today, cough saying the overall capital building program is continuing to come in under budget.

The report for the fiscal period ending March 31 says the Games incurred $92.8 million, prescription including $66 million on venue construction during the quarter.

It says operating expenses during the quarter were $26.8 million, mostly spent in the areas of corporate, technology, transportation, events and ceremonies and community and cultural affairs.

With less than a year to go before the Games begin, the organizing committee says it has spent $126.9 million or 15.7 per cent of its total operations budget of $810 million.

The report says corporations have also put in an “incremental $43 million in value” worth of in-kind sponsorships for delivery of the Games.

Saad Rafi, the chief executive officer of the organizing committee, says the Games are expected to create 26,000 jobs.

“So far, of all the funding spent to procure the goods and services we need to make these games a success, 84 per cent has gone to Canadian companies,” he said.

Today’s quarterly report is the seventh in a series of regular, quarterly updates from the organizing committee.

The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games are August 7-15.

iSportconnect spoke in-depth with Toronto 2015 CEO Saad Rafi about the organisation of the games here.

iSportconnect Launches French Sport Business Community

iSportconnect, the global private network of Sport Executives, is proud to launch a new community section for the whole spectrum of the sport industry in France.

Following the success of the first edition to the iSportconnect Directors’ club Paris in December 2013, the iSportconnect team have had significant interest to launch a French community to allow all their French speaking members to be aware of the Sport business news in France. This page, dedicated for all the French speakers, will give a unique opportunity to share ideas, watch TV programmes, learn from experts in the industry and much more.

This new community shows iSportconnect’s intention to be more present worldwide and to expand our activity in new markets where top executives can take advantage of our plateform.

Check out the page Now HERE and our video presentation HERE

Actualités : Découvrez l’actualité du sport business français et international au travers d’articles précis et incontournables

Discussions : Partagez et échangez vos idées : “De la discussion jaillit la lumière”, dit un proverbe indien

Chroniques d’experts : Des chroniques d’experts reconnus de l’industrie du sport vous apporteront un regard pointu sur des secteurs précis

Opportunités : Une mise à jour régulière des dernières opportunités de sponsoring, d’hospitalités, des appels d’offres…

Jobs : Découvrez les dernières offres d’emploi de l’industrie du sport en France et à l’étranger

Evènements : Ne manquez pas les prochaines éditions de notre iSportconnect Directors’ Club Paris (www.directorsclub.biz)

TV : Visionnez des programmes télévisés exclusifs couvrant les dernières actualités du sport business

Eindhoven to Host 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships

Eindhoven in the Netherlands has been announced as the host of the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships held from 4-10 August.

It is expected to draw 500 athletes from nearly 40 countries looking to put in strong performances ahead of the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow, unhealthy Scotland, asthma | and two years into their preparations for Rio 2016.

The competition at the Pieter van den Hoogenband stadium will be held in the same venue as the 2010 World Championships.

Xavier Gonzalez, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Chief Executive Officer said: “We are delighted that Eindhoven will be the venue for the prestigious 2014 European Championships and are pleased to be working with them again to organise a major championships.

“The pool has long been a top-quality destination for elite-level swimming competitions and we are glad to be able to continue that legacy.

“We expect competition to be fierce ahead of the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow and following on from the last Euros in Berlin, where 31 out of the 36 participating countries took home at least one medal.”

Erik van Heijningen, President of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation said: “We are happy to welcome the athletes, staff and fans from all over Europe in Eindhoven this summer. Dutch Paralympic swimmers have been very successful and it is wonderful for them to compete on an international level in their own country. We expect a lot of ‘Orange fans’ to support them.’’

Wakefield Wildcats Chairman Optimistic About Future Despite Winding-Up Order

Andrew Glover, chairman of English Rugby League club Wakefield Wildcats, has reiterated the club will not go out of business despite a new winding-up order.

The petition was issued by HMRC on Friday in the wake of a legal battle between Wakefield and a supplier.

But Glover, who also revealed the Super League club have been the subject of nine County Court Judgments, says that debt will be settled before any further action is taken.

“We had hoped they would accept our payment terms without advertising the information,” Glover told the club’s official website.

“There have also been a number of CCJs against the company. Some of these are through disagreements with suppliers and others are through straightforward mistakes on our behalf.

“There have been nine in total, of which eight are now settled and cleared. We are still waiting for the final paperwork to come through for the last one and then it will be cleared off.

“It’s been a particularly tough six months, but we’re getting there.”

Viggle Launches New Marketing Campaign for NBA Playoffs

Viggle, pilule a free, cutting-edge mobile app that operates an intelligent “second screen” for television, today announced it is teaming with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to provide rewards and discounts to fans watching the 2013 NBA Playoffs and The Finals.

Beginning with the Nets v. Bulls on Friday, May 3, Viggle members who check in while watching select NBA games throughout the postseason will be eligible for Viggle bonus points and discounts at NBAStore.com.

“Viggle is taking the NBA playoffs to a whole new level,” said Greg Consiglio, Viggle President and COO. “NBA fans will be rewarded for checking in with Viggle and watching the games and can earn points redeemable in our rewards catalog or discounts on official NBA gear.”

The select NBA games with rewards and discounts will not be revealed until the day of the game.

Fans can also further engage during the NBA Playoffs through a Viggle social campaign and share their favorite NBA team for a chance at receiving additional Viggle bonus points.

Fry/Straka to Design Batu Bay Golf Club in China

Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, discount a partnership with worldwide reach in award-winning golf-course design, and will create Batu Bay Golf Club in Inner Mongolia, medicine China.

Dana Fry, a Fry/Straka principal, will oversee the project from start to finish. The resort golf course, perched on a bluff overlooking the Batu Bay reservoir, will be an 18-hole layout built on sand dunes, with a Banyan Tree Hotel located on site; the course will be open to guests staying at the hotel. The owner is Oriental Holding Group based in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

“Batu Bay has the chance to become one of the world’s great courses due to the excellent soil conditions, natural sand scrub vegetation and awesome views of the reservoir,” Fry says. “It has a Sand Hills (Nebraska) or Bandon Dunes (Oregon) feel to it.”

The layout is on an isolated site, a three-hour drive from Ordos, with hundreds of acres of sand dunes on a hill above the large reservoir. Native scrub vegetation covers the entire site now; there are virtually no trees anywhere on the property. The project is now in the planning stage, with construction scheduled to begin in May 2013 and the course slated to open in late summer 2014. The closest airport is Yulin Airport in Yulin City, Shanxi Province, about a one-hour drive away.

The Batuwan Tourism Region is located in Wudinghe Town, Wushen Banner, where two bays are formed by the course of the Salawusu River, flowing from the north west. Legend has it that a long time ago, there lived a Mongolian family named Batu; thus the name “Batuwan” was derived. Batuwan, a national AAAA-class tourism area, is known for its natural beauty. By taking the “Bright Pearl” painted boat, visitors can enjoy the exquisite scenery on the two banks of the reservoir.

Award-winning golf-course architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka announced in 2012 the formation of their golf-course design partnership, Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design.

After having worked together for nearly 20 years, they now bring their collective design experience, talent and renowned client dedication to their new venture.

Although the pair collaborates on all projects, Fry resides in Hong Kong, China, while Straka remains in the United States, so that they can have worldwide reach and serve their global clients.

In addition, the new company has associates based in Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; Beijing, China; and Porto Alegre, Brazil.

DTM und japanische Super GT starten 2014 gemeinsam durch

Die DTM geht ab 2014 neue Wege: Die populärste internationale Tourenwagenserie öffnet sich durch einen am Dienstag in Tokio unterschriebenen Kooperationsvertrag nicht nur für japanische Automobilkonzerne, anabolics sondern ermöglicht ihren drei Premium-Herstellern Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz im Gegenzug auch die Teilnahme an der Super GT in Japan. Die Vereinbarung über die Nutzung des neuen Reglements der DTM durch die japanische Super GT beginnt mit der Saison 2014 und läuft vorerst über vier Jahre.

„Dies ist ein besonderer Tag für alle Beteiligten, aber er hat darüber hinaus auch eine herausragende Bedeutung für den Motorsport. Möglich geworden ist diese einzigartige Zusammenarbeit, weil sich die richtigen Parteien zur rechten Zeit zusammengefunden haben“, sagte Hans Werner Aufrecht, Vorsitzender des DTM-Rechteinhabers und –vermarkters ITR e.V., anlässlich der Vertragsunterzeichnung mit dem japanischen Serienbetreiber GT Association (GTA) in Tokio.

„Durch die Kooperation zwischen der GTA und der ITR auf Basis des neuen Technischen Reglements ist ein Traum wahr geworden. Wir sind der Überzeugung, dass dieser Meilenstein der Motorsportgeschichte nicht nur helfen wird, die Kosten signifikant zu senken, sondern gleichzeitig auch die Sicherheit verbessert und für spektakuläre Rennen mit Chancengleichheit für Hersteller und Teams sorgt – zur Freude von Millionen Fans auf der ganzen Welt“, ergänzte Hans Werner Aufrecht.

„Die GTA, die ITR und die engagierten Hersteller betreten Neuland. Die Super GT in Japan und die DTM haben viele gemeinsame Ideen. Das ist in den intensiven Diskussionen der letzten Jahre sehr deutlich geworden. Jetzt werden diese Organisationen auf der Basis eines gemeinsamen technischen Reglements zusammenarbeiten. Das wird maximale Sicherheit, spektakulären Sport und kosteneffizienten Rennsport garantieren“, sagte Audi-Sportchef Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, der in Tokio die DTM-Hersteller vertrat.

„Das Technische Reglement der DTM ist in vielerlei Hinsicht richtungweisend. Eckpunkte wie die Faszination der Autos, der hohe Sicherheitsstandard, aber auch das Kostenbewusstsein standen bei den Gesprächen mit den Verantwortlichen der japanischen Motorsportföderation im Vordergrund“, erklärte Christian Schacht, Generalsekretär des Deutschen Motor Sport Bundes (DMSB).

„Wir sind davon überzeugt, dass diese Vereinbarung viel zur weiteren Entwickung der Super GT und der DTM beitragen wird. Diese tiefe Beziehung zwischen der DTM in Europa und der Super GT in Asien wird Neuigkeiten hervorbringen, etwa Rennen für beide Serien, sehr zur Unterhaltung und zur Freude der Fans überall auf der Welt“, sagte Masaaki Bandoh, Vorsitzender der GTA.

Die Kooperation entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit dem DMSB und dem Japanischen Automobilverband (JAF). Durch die gleiche technische Basis können die DTM-Hersteller Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz ab 2014 mit ihren Fahrzeugen in der japanischen Super GT gegen Toyota, Nissan und Honda antreten, umgekehrt gilt dies auch für die japanischen Konzerne in der DTM.

Um die Chancengleichheit der Fahrzeuge aus der DTM und der Super GT, die momentan unterschiedliche Motorkonzepte verwenden, zu gewährleisten, werden die Autos für eine Übergangszeit nach einer so genannten ‚Balance of Performance‘ (BOP) eingestuft. Mit Beginn der Kooperation intensiviert sich zudem die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit der beteiligten Hersteller Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz sowie Toyota, Nissan und Honda, der beiden Serienbetreiber ITR e.V. und GTA sowie der Verbände DMSB und JAF. Um die Basis für einen kontinuierlichen Informationsaustausch zu schaffen, werden.