Sporting goods giant Nike have announced today that Anthony Watson will be their new Chief Information Officer (CIO).

Watson, a seasoned veteran of the information technology business, joins Nike from Barclays Bank, PLC, where he has been their London-based Managing Director and CIO for Europe and the Middle East, as well as for Global Operations since 2009. He was also the chair of Barclays’ Europe, Middle East, Retail and Business Banking Operating Committee and co-chair of Barclays’ Global Diversity & Inclusion Council.

Prior to Barclays, Watson was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Technology Services for Wells Fargo, where he also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo Bank International. He has also held senior roles at CitiGroup, Unisys Corporation, Microsoft and First-e Bancorp, Europe’s first internet bank.

“We look forward to Anthony joining our team and bringing his deep knowledge, expertise and vision to lead Nike’s overall technology strategy,” said Eric Sprunk, Chief Operating Officer for NIKE, Inc. “We are confident he can deliver progressive and innovative technology solutions and help us to continue to drive sustainable, profitable growth.” 

Watson, 38, will report to Sprunk and his anticipated start date is in mid-April.

Phizzle, a leading technology provider of advanced mobile marketing products and digital advertising solutions, today announced a partnership with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors to provide data-rich digital marketing campaigns designed to enhance the mobile experience for fans during the 2012-2013 NBA season.

An early-adopter of digital technology, the Golden State Warriors look to not only deepen fan engagement at Oracle Arena before, during and after the games, but also during televised broadcasts and on the team’s in-arena digital signage. By doing so, the Golden State Warriors are creating a valuable piece of digital inventory driving revenue and creating meaningful connections between the fans and their corporate partners.

The Golden State Warriors are currently providing the team’s fans with the ability to receive instant news, updates, and special offers through SMS messages powered by Phizzle’s platform. Whether at the game or watching at home, Phizzle’s proprietary solution,Broadcaster iX, produces real-time, interactive HD graphics enabling fans to be part of the action through fun and stimulating experiences such as Text-2-Vote instant polling, trivia opportunities, Text-2-Win promotions as well as Text-2-Screen elements through SMS messages, social media (tweets) and pictures displayed during the game.

“We are extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to be partnering with the Golden State Warriors. The organization is dedicated to providing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy to effectively increase participation and initiate one-to-one dialogue with their fan base,” said Ben Davis, CEO of Phizzle. “With our technology, we’re able to provide the Golden State Warriors an opportunity to measure fan behavior, habits and interests enabling the Golden State Warriors to deliver audiences targeted offers and messages.”

 

TSE Consulting, drug the international consulting firm specialised in sport, online has expanded its presence in Asia with the opening of an office in Singapore.

The new office in Singapore will be headed by Kenneth Quah, patient Singapore native who has been based in the TSE headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland for the last six years.

Commenting on the expansion, Lars Haue-Pedersen, Managing Director of TSE Consulting, said: “The Asian market is very active in hosting events and using sport to reach government objectives. We are pleased to have Kenneth, a native to Singapore and an experienced TSE Consultant, take the lead of our new office. From Singapore he will enable us to better serve our clients in the region and at the same time expand our reach to new areas throughout Asia.”

Kenneth Quah, Director of TSE Asia, added: “I am excited to return to Singapore after many years and look forward to brining the expertise I have developed at TSE to the Asian market. I will also focus on bridging Asian cities, countries and sports organisations with best practices from other parts of the world. The office will be fully functional by the last quarter of 2012.” 

The new office will provide regional support to cities and regions who are looking to identify and leverage opportunities in sport within the following separate, yet highly inter-related components that are fundamental to sport in any city/region or country: events, performance, participation, and facilities. In particular, TSE Asia will assist cities and countries who are looking to develop long-term sports strategies and host international and national sports events. 

TSE Consulting, headquarted in Lausanne, Switzerland, also has offices in North and South America, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Middle East.

Read Lars Haue-Pedersen exclusive iSportconnect featured profile here>>

WWE have continued their recent expansion by announcing their first live tour of Russia.

WWE has seen recent success on Russian Televison and has scheduled the WWE RAW World Tour for the Luzhniki Small Sports Arena in Moscow on Wednesday April 11, ed 2012.

The WWE RAW World Tour will bring some of WWE’s biggest Superstars and Divas to the fans in Russia for all the live excitement. Among the talent slated to attend are: John Cena, CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Kelly Kelly, Eve and many more. WWE will be working with the Russian live events promoter SAV Entertainment who has previously brought such prestigious acts as Paul McCartney, U2, Britney Spears, Aerosmith and Elton John to Russia.

“This will be SAV Entertainment’s first experience of this kind of show and we are very happy to launch it in Russia together with WWE” said Nadia Solovieva, SAV Entertainment CEO.

Dominic Hayes, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, WWE International, said: “Following the success of WWE RAW launching on 2×2 this past February, we are excited to bring some of WWE’s greatest Superstars and Divas to our Russian fans. WWE has a strong and ever growing fan base in Russia and we are looking forward to further developing the WWE brand in the market with this live tour.”

This follows WWE announcing their first foray into Abu Dhabi.

President, Enrique Cerezo, has initiated palns for a new Atlético Madrid’s 70,000-capacity stadium at La Peineta in the San Blas area of the city, which is set to replace the Vicente Calderón as their home from 2015.

Atlético’s current ground has room for 55,000 spectators and has been used by Los Colchoneros since October, 1966, but the new stadium will eventually have a 73,000 capacity after it has been expanded.

The first phase in the building of La Peineta is already underway: at the moment it is used for athletics and can accommodate 20,000 people and, according to the city’s ruling council, part of one of the stands will be demolished along with two floodlights while a number of walkways, perimeter walls and the athletics track will also be ripped up. Initially expected to be ready for the 2010/11 season, work on the new project has suffered a number of delays in recent years due to finance, but was formally approved on September 28.

At a ceremony in the city attended by the present squad and former Atlético greats such as Abelardo Rodríguez, Luis Aragonés, Luiz Pereira, Luis Reina and Kiko, Cerezo called it one of the most important days in history of the club.

He said: “This is an important day and I would say it is one of the most important in the history of this club. It is the beginning of a dream. Atlético hopes to create an unmistakable icon for the club and the city of Madrid.

“It will be a sign of identity and will provide the city with a new architectural symbol that in the future may become the home of the Olympic Games. There are not many times one has the opportunity to live a historical moment as relevant in the life of a sports club as this.”

On completion, La Peineta will be equipped with the best infrastructure and technology available and will hold concerts and major international sporting events with facilities expected to include: a state-of-the-art security system, escalators and elevators around the stadium perimeter on eight levels, meeting and conference areas, a clubhouse, an 18-hole golf course, swimming pools and paddle tennis courts. Supporters will also be able to take advantage of improved access points, nearby suburban and metro stations, parking for over 3,000 cars, commercial areas, specially adapted disabled areas, VIP rooms, private boxes, restaurants and fan zones.

Atlético are hoping to play at least one game there before the end of the 2014-15 season, while moving in permanently for the start of the following campaign, and confirmation of the move follows Madrid’s failed bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, the stadium will be presented as the focal point of the Spanish capital’s bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, when it will face competition from Doha, Istanbul, Baku, Rome and Tokyo.

Soccer’s World Governing Body FIFA have granted permission for England’s footballers to wear embroidered poppies for Saturday’s match at Wembley but only on their black armband.

The FA said in a statement: “The FA welcomes FIFA’s decision and thanks them for agreeing to this. While continuing to adhere to the laws of the game, wearing the poppy on the armband does ensure the poppy will be visible throughout the game.”

FIFA initially denied England’s request yesterday to place poppies on the national shirts during the Spain friendly but influential figures FA President Prince William and Prime Minister David Cameron jumped into the row.

The Duke of Cambridge – who lost two close friends in Iraq and Afghanistan – wote a strongly worded letter expressing his discontent.

Mr Cameron, meanwhile, blasted the ‘appalling’ decision to ban poppies worn out of respect for servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Less than an hour after the letters were sent, FIFA  whose reputation is hanging by a thread following a corruption scandal announced the compromise.

It means the FA has complied  to strict FIFA rules banning political symbols being displayed on national shirts, while football chiefs in Zurich save face.

It has also been discovered that NIke have taken advantage of FIFA’s submission by stitching poppies into the football boots of Ashley Cole, Theo Walcott, Scott Parker and Gabriel Agbonlahor for Spain match.

Sports marketing firm World Sport Group (WSG) have been appointed by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the China Football Industry Development Corporation (CFIDC) on a multi-year deal, see to develop the brand of the country’s national soccer team.

WSG will create a comprehensive match schedule for China whilst enhancing the commercial revenues of the team once the deal is activated in May.

The agreement was signed by CFIDC deputy general manager, ed Liu Weidong and Nick Mould, president of East Asia at World Sport Group, at the organisation’s headquarters in Beijing on Saturday, March 12.

Wei Di, vice-president and general secretary of the CFA, stated: “We believe Chinese football has found itself at a reasonable level and the performances at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar showed that there has been a strengthening of resolve. There is a belief in what can be achieved in the future.

“We believe Chinese football can enjoy a bright and successful future in partnership with our friends at World Sport Group.”