The former marketing director behind England’s woeful 2018 bid, David Magliano, has been named brand director of the Co-operative Group.

Magliano, who also worked on London’s 2012 Olympic bid will oversee brand development across all of The Co-op’s businesses. He has also worked for the airlines EasyJet and Go.

He will report to group marketing director Gill Barr.

“David is a high-calibre, proven marketeer and his appointment underlines the importance we are attaching to the further development of our brand within the UK,” said Barr.

“These are exciting times for The Co-operative in terms of maintaining the momentum we’ve seen in recent years and delivering plans which are anchored around meeting customers’ needs.”

Magliano added: “I’ve been presented with a fantastic opportunity to shape and communicate The Co-op brand across a range of businesses to a multitude of audiences, each with their own needs and expectations.”

With just under four weeks to go until the single biggest rugby focused conference and exhibition comes to Twickenham, salve the management team of Rugby Expo can confirm that the exhibition floor is now sold out with 38 exhibitors confirmed for the event.

The announcement is testament to the purposeful growth of the event in 2011 with a number of high profile brands and suppliers showcasing their products and services including Tickets.com, anesthetist Paddy Power, Rhino Rugby, O’Neills, the IRB, York Fitness, Gatorade, the European Synthetic Turf Organisation, 80 minutes and FK Pro amongst many others.

Selling out the exhibition floor follows recent announcements confirming the support of the IRB, the RFU, SRU, Premiership Rugby, RaboDirect PRO12, the RFL and Super League and with a large number of club officials as well as senior members from the various unions and leagues also in attendance, the event will be the meeting place for the sport in 2011.

In addition to the sold out exhibition floor and support from the unions, leagues and professional clubs, the speaker line up and conference / workshop programme for day one (professional game focus) was also announced last week with a world class line up of speakers taking part in 4 plenary sessions and 11 workshops.

If you would like to attend Rugby Expo 2011, the only way to do so is to purchase a delegate pass.

Please click here to purchase your ticket online or call +44 (0)845 0740752 to speak to one of the sales team.

Tottenham Hotspur FC have announce that it has signed a partnership agreement with Real Madrid FC following the transfer of Luka Modric to the Spanish club.

The partnership agreement will see the two Clubs working together in respect of players, there coaching, best practices and commercial relationships.

Real Madrid FC President, Florentino Perez Rodriguez, said, “The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longer-term partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric. We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years.”

Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, commented, “Luka has been a terrific player for us and, whilst we preferred not to part with him, we are pleased that it is to Real Madrid, a club with which we now look forward to sharing a long and productive partnership.”

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke has been re-elected to his post following the completion of the election process conducted by Electoral Reform Services, prostate the ECB have announced.

The 41 members of the ECB, treatment which comprise of the 18 first-class counties, 21 county boards, the MCC and the Minor Counties Cricket Association, returned Clarke as chairman for a third term until the Annual General Meeting in 2015.

Clarke said: “I am honoured to be re-elected as chairman of the ECB until 2015, and would like to thank the members for their continued confidence and support.

“We have a magnificent complement of players, fans, volunteers and staff representing our sport, from the grassroots structures to the top of the professional game. Their continued dedication and commitment to the sport is irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated by all those who love the game.

“I look forward to working with all of my colleagues throughout English cricket to ensure that the great successes of the last few years will continue both on and off the field.”

by Ismail Uddin

The Scottish Premier League (SPL) has paid half of the money owed to member clubs, ed on top of a payment to the Scottish Football League (SFL).

The league has paid 50% of the sponsorship and broadcasting revenues, which was due at the start of August.

£500,000 has also been paid to the SFL, which is the first instalment of £2 million that is due to the league.

The delay in payment has been put down to the uncertainty of Rangers, which dominated Scottish football over the summer.

The Glasgow side was liquidated and reformed as the Rangers FC, but were demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football.

Due to Rangers beginning life in Division Three, the SPL had to negotiate new deals with broadcasters Sky and ESPN, with no Old Firm derby against Celtic proving costly.

Simon Mason, capsule President of the England Hockey Board (EHB), pills has announced that Philip Kimberley has been reappointed as the Non-Executive Chairman of EHB for a further three years.

The re-appointment was made by the Non-Executive Directors of the EHB, ampoule and the process chaired by the President of EHB, Simon Mason, who said: ”The responsibility of appointing the Chair of EHB is a significant one and the Non-Executive Directors were unanimous that Philip was the right person to lead the EHB during such an exciting and important time for the sport. 

“As Executive Chairman from 2003 to 2008, Philip ran things on a day-to-day basis and was responsible for the rebuilding of the governing body’s affairs after its financial problems in 2002. He then became Non-Executive Chairman in early 2009 when Sally Munday was appointed Chief Executive and the two of them have worked very closely since then to continue the development of the sport.”

The England Hockey Board is the governing body for the sport in England and also has the responsibility of being the Nominated Country for Great Britain Hockey, to qualify and deliver the Great Britain sides for Olympic success.

Philip Kimberley said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as both an Executive and now Non-Executive Chairman leading a great team.  I have watched with great pleasure as the plans we laid many years ago are now coming to fruition.”

Philip is also England’s representative on the Great Britain Hockey Board and Richard Leman, Great Britain Hockey’s President said: “The re-appointment of Philip will give everyone inside and out of hockey the confidence that the excellent  progress made by the administration and performance teams will continue well into the Rio cycle under his guidance.  His leadership and direction have been significant in the continued growth of our sport.”

Philip is also a Non-Executive Director of both UK Sport and sportscoachUK, and a shareholder and Chair of each of Nemisys and ipadio, digital media companies.

by Ismail Uddin

Vauxhall Motors will create a piece of footballing history when they bring together the four Home Nations managers to preview the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on Friday morning.

England Manager Roy Hodgson, Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland), Craig Levein (Scotland) and Chris Coleman (Wales) will join forces for a special ‘Road To Brazil’ event in London hosted by Vauxhall, who is the lead sponsor of all four Home Nations.

The event will take place at the Honourable Artillery Company HQ at Armoury House and the four managers will take part in a panel discussion about the 2014 World Cup and answer questions from the assembled media.

Duncan Aldred, Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors, said: “The Road to Brazil event is a historic moment in our sponsorship of Home Nations football.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first organisation to be the lead partner of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at the same time.

“This is a truly momentous occasion and offers a unique opportunity for the four managers to meet and give an insight and preview ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

“We are extremely grateful to all four of the governing bodies for helping to make such a special event possible.”

The World Cup qualification campaign kicks-off next month with England in Group H alongside Moldova, Ukraine, San Marino, Poland and Montenegro.

Wales and Scotland are paired together in Group A and will face Belgium, Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia whilst Northern Ireland find themselves in Group F against Russia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Azerbaijan and Israel.

The event will be broadcast live on the FA’s official website at 11am, Friday 24 August

World Match Racing Tour CEO, pills  Jim O’Toole has left his post after not agreeing a new deal and will leave with immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Alpari World Match Racing Tour said: “The Alpari World Match Racing Tour today announces that Chief Executive Officer Jim O’Toole will not be renewing his fixed term contract with the Tour and after discussions with the Board of Directors it has been agreed that he will part company with the Tour with immediate effect.”

Jim O’Toole said: “With the recent announcement of Alpari as the Tour title sponsor and the conclusion of an agreement with the new venue in Chicago, the Alpari World Match Racing Tour is in an enviable commercial position in the world of sailing and I would like to wish the series and all its stakeholders every success moving forward.”

O’Toole will explore other senior management roles within the sports marketing industry.

by Ismail Uddin

A national football academy will be built in Vadodara, India with the aim of providing a much-needed boost to sport in India

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial and marketing partner IMG-Reliance  this week presented ambitious plans for football development in India with the objective of its national team participating in the 2026 World Cup.

Vadodara already has several football grounds, and IMG-Reliance chose the location because it believes it would be easy to build an academy.

The AIFF and IMG-Reliance are also working toward refurbishing the existing stadiums.

The academy’s goal is to produce 80 percent of national team players within the next 10 years.

IMG-Reliance will also provide scholarships to 16 football players that will include full-time training and academic education at IMG Academy in Florida.{jcomments on}

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has further strengthened its commercial and marketing operations with the appointment of experienced sports administrator James Mercer as Commercial Director.

Mercer, pharmacy 43, joins Rugby League’s governing body with a strong pedigree in sports sponsorship and commerce having worked in both professional tennis and motorsport since 1995.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood, said: “I would like to welcome James to the RFL and look forward to working with him at what is a very exciting time for Rugby League.

“James has a proven track record of commercial delivery and his rich experience has an important role to play as we look to achieve our objectives of growing the sport at every level.

“James will be able to offer a total package to sponsors and commercial partners, from grassroots through to Super League, England and the Rugby League World Cup.”

A former pupil of Bristol Grammar School, Mercer graduated from Illinois State University before completing his Masters in Sport Business at the University of Richmond in Virginia, USA.

His career includes a six-year tenure as Commercial Manager for the International Tennis Federation (2000-2006) and a Director (commercial, media, television and sponsorship) at North One Sport, the Championship Promoter for the FIA World Rally Championship (2006-2012).

James Mercer said: “I have watched Rugby League make terrific progress over the last few years and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to help take the sport to the next level.

“My experience with the ITF and North One Sport has equipped me to deliver a whole-sport solution to the market and maximise sponsorship and revenue streams in a sport I have admired for some considerable time.

“I have first hand experience of building successful platforms by weaving together the elements of television, new media, licensing and sponsorship to achieve commercial objectives.

“With so much positive news, this is a great time to join the RFL and I am very much looking forward to working with all our brands to understand how to maximise all the opportunities that exist for growth.”

His recruitment comes just a few days after the RFL confirmed the appointment of Matt Lowery, the former Manchester City Head of Marketing, as Director of Marketing on a consultancy basis.

Nigel Wood added: “These appointments make the sport better equipped than ever before to realise its rich commercial potential and raise visibility and profile to new heights.

“Matt and James enhance an experienced and committed team at the RFL which is well placed to build on the sustained growth we have overseen in the last few years.”

James Mercer will be based in London and will begin his tenure today (Monday March 12).

by Ismail Uddin