Leicester City have announced Chinese businessman Liu Shillai has joined the Board of Directors of the English Championship club.

He will become vice chairman, alongside Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn and the Board of Directors, after the move was ratified by the Football League.

“I am delighted that Mr Shillai has accepted our invitation to join the Leicester City Board of Directors,” chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn told the club’s official website.

Mr Liu Shillai said: “I am extremely proud to be joining an ambitious, progressive club with the heritage and tradition of Leicester City and it is my intention to play a role in the club’s further development and growth.”

“Mr Liu’s extensive experience and knowledge will be of great value to the club, along with a great sense of sportsmanship,” said a club spokesman.

“His appointment reflects the vision of Leicester City chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn to strengthen the club’s highly-valued domestic fan-base with an international following, recognising China as the largest potential fan-base in Asia.

He will take up his position as vice chairman from 1 December.

Despite the addition to the ranks there will be no change to the ownership structure of the club, which remains wholly owned by King Power International.

Championship Bull Riding (CBR) has appointed Steven Smith as its Chief Executive Officer, order effective December 1st, discount 2012.

Smith previously operated Markalyst Group, an enterprise growth advisory. Prior to Markalyst, Smith earned recognition at Enterprise Holdings Inc. (EHI) where, as Chief Marketing Officer, he was highly successful at creating demand for the company’s transportation brands (e.g., Alamo, Enterprise, National, WeCar) throughout the Americas and Europe.

Its announcement of a new CEO comes as CBR prepares for the 2013 ”Road To Cheyenne” tour that kicks off in early January.

“Today, Championship Bull Riding is poised for dramatic growth,” said Benny Cude, Chairman of the Board, “so this is the perfect time for Steven, a proven growth champion, to be joining our organization.” Wes Bruce, another Member of the Board and the outgoing CEO who led the search for his replacement adds, “Steven is a visionary leader with a tremendous amount of management and marketing success; likewise, I’m very comfortable placing the future of our business in his hands.”

In addition to Smith’s extensive business background, his experience with rodeo makes him uniquely qualified to serve as CEO of Championship Bull Riding. Beyond his admiration and passion for America’s western lifestyle, Smith initiated and led Enterprise’s sponsorship of organized bull riding from 2002 until his retirement from EHI in 2009. During these years, he set new standards for sponsorship activation that engaged and supported bull riding fans, riders and stock contractors.

According to legendary cowboy and bull rider, Tuff Hedeman, “Steven is great at what he does; he has done a lot for our sport and I look forward to working with him to take CBR to the next level.”

Jerry Colangelo has been re-elected chairman of USA Basketball’s board of directors until 2016.

Colangelo has transformed the U.S. men’s team after a disappointing bronze medal and disinterested effort at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Since Colangelo joined USA Basketball in 2005 as managing director of the men’s national team, the U.S. men are 62-1 with gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 world championships and 2012 London Olympics. The men did not lose a game at those three events under Colangelo and U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“I’m excited to again serve USA Basketball as chairman for the next four years,” Colangelo in a statement. “I’m proud of the many successes USA Basketball’s coaches and players achieved over the past four years, and I’m looking forward to helping keep that momentum going. We were not only successful in competitions, but in the manner in which everyone associated with USA Basketball represented our country on and away from the court. We focused on showing the utmost respect for the competitions and for our international opponents.”

Colangelo’s influence has reached the women’s team and junior teams, and he has made it important for young players to participate in USA Basketball early. Colangelo is a big believer in equity, and commitment to USA Basketball at a young age is meaningful to Colangelo. 

Ted Bishop has been elected the 38th President of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America along with the announcements of a new CEO and COO.

Bishop previously served as Secretary of the Association from 2008-2010 and Vice President from 2010-2012.

A native of Logansport, Ind., Bishop is the PGA general manager and director of golf at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind., a facility where he oversaw the construction and development of the 45-hole complex. The Legends Golf Club is home of the Indiana PGA Section and Indiana Golf Association.

Peter Bevacqua has also been selected as chief executive officer of The PGA of America.

He succeeds Joe Steranka, who retired after 25 years with The PGA, the last seven as CEO. Bevacqua previously served as chief business officer for the United States Golf Association and more recently led the golf division of CAA Sports.

Bevacqua, 41, was hired after an extensive search and was formally introduced prior to the conclusion of the 96th PGA Annual Meeting, on Saturday, November 10, 2012, in Baltimore, Md. Ted Bishop, who was elected The PGA’s 38th President earlier in the day, announced the hiring of Bevacqua to more than 700 national and section PGA leaders and guests.

“Pete’s combination of experience, leadership skills and broad understanding of the golf industry really stood out among several excellent candidates,” said Bishop, PGA general manager and director of golf at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind. “Pete is a passionate, intelligent leader who is the best choice to lead our renewed emphasis on the importance of our membership.”

Bevacqua joined the USGA in 2000 as in-house counsel, and from the Fall of 2003 through June 2007, he was managing director of the U.S. Open Championship. In July 2007, he was named the USGA’s first-ever chief business officer, and in that role, he was responsible for all revenue and commercial activities, including major sponsorship agreements. In 2011, he left the USGA to join CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency.

A native of Bedford, N.Y., Bevacqua began a lifetime relationship with golf as a 10-year-old caddie at Bedford Golf & Tennis Club. He continued working there through his college years, as a caddie, caddie master and eventually golf shop manager under PGA Professional Walt Ronan. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1993, Bevacqua earned a law degree from Georgetown University and worked for the firm of Davis Polk before joining the USGA.

“It is an unbelievable honor and literally a dream come true to be given the opportunity to lead the PGA of America staff as we support our members in their efforts to grow the game through Golf 2.0 and as we count down to the Association’s centennial,” said Bevacqua. “I decided years ago that I wanted to dedicate my professional life to the game I love and to the game I grew up with, and can think of no better way than to join the organization that supports and enhances the critical roles that PGA Professionals play in our industry.”

A competitive amateur golfer with a 2.4 USGA Handicap Index, Bevacqua and his wife, Tiffany, are the parents of a daughter, Samantha Wells, and a son, Arthur William.

In addition to naming Bevacqua as CEO, The PGA also announced that Darrell Crall, currently Managing Director, Strategic Development, will become Chief Operating Officer. In this new position, Crall will oversee the association’s day-to-day business operations. He joined The PGA in 2011 to spearhead the implementation of Golf 2.0, and will continue to be heavily involved in the industry-supported strategic plan to grow the game.