Michael Spillane, currently CEO of Converse, has been confirmed by Nike, Inc. as the new CEO and president of Umbro, while Jim Calhoun, currently CEO of Hurley, will become CEO and president of Converse.

Both will continue to report to Nike Inc. president of affiliates Roger Wyett following current CEO and president of Umbro, Jim Allaker’s retirement.

Spillane brings more than 25 years of management experience in the apparel and textile industries to Umbro having joined Converse in 2007 as president of North America Footwear. In less than a year, he was asked to lead growth around the apparel business, as president, North America and Global Product.

Calhoun rejoins Nike, after working in its basketball business, from Levi Strauss & Company, where he had worked since 2008 as executive vice president & president of the Dockers Brand. Before joining Levi Strauss, Calhoun was with The Walt Disney Company for more than nine years in a variety of senior roles, most recently as executive vice president & general manager for Disney Consumer Products for North and Latin America.

Wyett will serve as interim CEO of Hurley as Nike, Inc. moves to name a successor.

American tv broadcaster, NBC have acquired the broadcast rights to the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open becoming the first regular European Tour events to be shown live on a major United States.

NBC will broadcast two and a half hours of live coverage on each of the final two days’ play from Castle Stuart Golf Links in 2013 and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in 2014. NBC Sports’ golf coverage is presented as Golf Channel on NBC and complements Golf Channel’s season-long coverage of European Tour events, including the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Until now, only Major Championships, World Golf Championships and leading team events connected to The European Tour have been shown live on American broadcast networks and so this two-year agreement between the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and NBC Sports opens up new horizons for one of the most prestigious titles on the Tour.

As part of the new arrangement, title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management, which is eager to promote its global asset management business in the United States, will have the opportunity to advertise and engage in promotional activity around the broadcast, as will the tournament’s other principal backers, the Scottish Government.

Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “The U.S. is one of our most important markets and therefore we are very supportive of this new agreement with NBC and the Golf Channel. The opportunities for us to promote the Aberdeen brand in the U.S. are fantastic. It’s a very effective way for us to reach a mass audience and showcase not only our commitment to [Scottish] golf and to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open but also raise our profile as a leading global financial institution.”

The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP, Scotland’s First Minister, commented: “This historic agreement with NBC and the Golf Channel will see the Scottish Open become the first regular European Tour event to be given prime-time coverage on U.S. network television. It is a fantastic boost for Scottish golf and an incredible opportunity for Scotland to showcase the magnificent scenery of the Highlands and the fantastic golf on offer at Castle Stuart and across the country to tens of millions of U.S. viewers.

“This is an agreement brokered on the course at the recent Ryder Cup in Medinah, and I know from my time at that tournament that U.S. golf fans have an incredible affinity for Scotland as the undisputed Home of Golf. This deal will help feed the appetite for coverage of Scottish events across the Atlantic and cement the reputation of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as one of the jewels in the crown of the European Tour schedule.

“Within the last few weeks, another U.S. TV network – CNN – said Scotland was the must-see destination of 2013. Today’s announcement will see NBC covering Scotland’s premier golf tournament live on its network. It is a great boost for Scottish golf, a great boost for Scottish tourism and a fantastic thing for Scotland.”

Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports, said: “Showcasing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in concert on both NBC and Golf Channel is yet another example of the strength of the NBC Sports Group.”

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, added: “Following the vision and leadership of the Golf Channel, we are delighted to enter into this historic new agreement with NBC for live coverage of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the next two years. It speaks volumes for the quality of the European Tour product, and specifically the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, that one of our most prestigious championships will be shown to a new audience on one of the prime TV networks in the United States in conjunction with our already outstanding coverage on the Golf Channel.”

Brian Kennedy and the Blue Knights have confirmed they have submitted a “revised bid” for Rangers with administrators Duff and Phelps.

Kennedy, also the Sale Sharks owner, and the Blue Knights consortium – fronted by former Ibrox director Paul Murray – are in the running for a takeover of the stricken club, with American tycoon Bill Miller another bidder.

Administrators confirmed they had received formal offers from both interested parties on Friday.

Kennedy’s spokesman said: “Brian Kennedy has asked me to advise you all that a revised bid has been submitted to the administrators.”

The Knights were set to be named preferred bidders two weeks previously but former partners Ticketus would not pay the exclusivity fee and bowed out of the deal.

However, Kennedy was told at the weekend that the offer delivered by himself and the Knights on Friday, reported to be worth £5 million, would not be commercially acceptable to creditors.

Rangers’ liabilities are around £60 million but they could face an additional tax bill of up to £75 million in the coming days or weeks when a tribunal outcome is delivered.

The offer is subject to a Company Voluntary Arrangement being accepted and Craig Whyte handing over his 85% shareholding.

Joint-administrator David Whitehouse said Miller’s £11.2 million bid, which involves transferring the club’s assets to a new company, was acceptable and claimed there could be clarity early this week over whether the American could proceed. He added that Miller could theoretically take control before the end of the season.

However, Miller’s bid is dependent on getting assurances that his newco club would not be penalised by the football authorities.

A new club would be banned from Europe for three years and the Scottish Premier League clubs are meeting today to discuss points and financial penalties for such a club, while Rangers have appealed against a £160,000 fine and 12-month transfer embargo from the Scottish Football Association.

Miller has been in talks with the SPL and SFA and Whitehouse urged the Blue Knights to follow suit “very urgently”.

 

Hermann Deininger has been appointed by adidas to become its new chief marketing officer (CMO), ailment effective June 1.

Deininger will be responsible for all three adidas sub-brands, order adidas Sport Performance, site adidas Originals and adidas Sport Style and will continue to report directly to executive board member Erich Stamminger, responsible for global brands. 

Stamminger stated: “This new structure strengthens the integrity of our three sub-brands while making sure that all adidas programmes and products across all sub-brands remain in line with our overall brand direction.

“It is also a major step to deliver against the targets of our strategic business plan Route 2015 by enabling us to better focus on the consumer, align our organization worldwide and thus increase our speed to market.” 

Deininger has been a key member of the global marketing team for the adidas brand since 2000 and has been at the company since 1985. In the last four years he has served as CMO for adidas Sport Style and drove the Style business to record sales of US$3.08bn in 2010.

In his new role, Deininger will assume leadership across all adidas sub-brands adidas Sport Performance, adidas Originals and adidas Sport Style and their respective labels such as adidas by Stella McCartney, adidas NEO, adidas SLVR, Porsche Design and Y-3. 

Bernd Wahler, most recently CMO adidas Sport Performance, will assume leadership of the new and extended function as head of innovation for the adidas brand effective July 1 and will report directly into Deininger.

Ticketus has pulled out from the Blue Knights consortium bid and confirmed it will not fund any takeover bid for Rangers.

The investment firm had been in talks with Paul Murray, who is spearheading the Blue Knights’ bid, over helping to finance a takeover deal.

However, they no longer feel they can justify their involvement to their investors with this week’s Scottish Football Association sanctions adding another obstacle to the process.

Ticketus said it had made the move, which will most likely see it become a creditor worth £27m, with its investors’ interests at heart.

The firm struck a deal with owner Craig Whyte for licences for future Ibrox season tickets having previously reached a similar arrangement with Sir David Murray when owned Rangers in 2009.

In a statement, the London-based firm said: “Following extensive discussions with the Blue Knights, led by Paul Murray, Ticketus today confirms that it has withdrawn from the Blue Knights Consortium after it was unable to finalise satisfactory terms of agreement for its investors with the Blue Knights around restructuring its ticket purchase agreement.

“Consequently Ticketus is no longer able to play a role in the consortium’s bid for The Rangers Football Club PLC at this stage.”

A spokesman for the branch of Octopus investments said: “Ticketus first and foremost has a duty to its investors to protect the investment that it currently has in the club. Our willingness to work with all interested bidders, and to try and be part of a solution for the club, was undertaken with the objective to agree terms that would satisfy both our investors’ needs as well as being in the interests of the club, its fans and its creditors.

“Regrettably over the course of this week it became impossible to reconcile these interests with the proposals put forward by the Blue Knights as the terms of a deal became clearer.”

While withdrawing financial backing, Ticketus claimed it remains supportive of the Blue Knights and their efforts to rescue Rangers.

The spokesman commented: “After much hard work from all parties involved, we are deeply disappointed that we are unable to secure an agreement with the Blue Knights. We do not wish to attach any blame to the failure of these talks as, while there have been frustrations on all sides at times, we believe all parties have been acting in good faith to agree terms.

“Paul Murray and the Blue Knights have the interests of the club at heart and we wish them well as they continue to try to secure the best outcome for the club and its fans. We hope that a swift resolution can be found for the club that will enable it to continue to play a leading role in Scottish football.”

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced the appointments of Patrick Koller as Head of Communications and Florian Wanninger, being named director of the newly founded International Basketball Foundation (IBF).

Wanninger has vacated his post as communications chief to take on the role after fronting FIBA’s department for the last two decades. The IBF’s main missions include safeguarding the sport’s heritage as well as funding and engaging in basketball related social and humanitarian projects.

Koller, former captain of Switzerland’s Men’s National Basketball Team, takes over from Wanninger, to head a team of four in-house staff covering media operations, PR, editorial and web services. Koller has accumulated over 10 years’ experience in the field of media and communications and holds degrees in both economics and journalism.

Patrick Koller spoke of his appointment: “As a lifelong basketball fan, this is a wonderful opportunity for me. International basketball is growing continuously, so the list of tasks and projects is long. But as a sportsman and competitor I can only look forward to these challenges.”

Florian Wanninger said: “The Foundation will become an important pillar of FIBA’s strategic development over the coming years and I am thrilled to be entrusted with such an important project.”

FIBA Secretary General and IOC Member Patrick Baumann added: “These are exciting times at FIBA and these two new appointments match our ambitions. There are few people who know the world of basketball as well as Florian Wanninger and he is the perfect person for the IBF. Patrick Koller has the profile and leadership qualities to push our communication team forward and spread the word about FIBA and international basketball.”

US broadcasters, ESPN has acquired the US media rights for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the premier championship for national soccer teams in the continent of Africa.

ESPN3, the company’s live multi-screen sports network available in 83 million homes, will be the primary home for live presentation of the three-week tournament in South Africa that began 19 January through 10 February.

ESPN Deportes, the 24-hour Spanish-language sports network, will televise the semifinals and final matches on delay. This is the first time Africa’s most prominent soccer championship will be available in the United States via a media platform reaching a mass audience.

The agreement includes access to match highlights across ESPN media platforms such as ESPN FC, the company’s sole destination for soccer content; studio news, highlights and analysis programs such as SportsCenter, ESPN FC Press Pass on ESPNEWS, as well as SportsCenter and Los Capitanes on ESPN Deportes.

This year’s Africa Cup of Nations is the 29th edition of the tournament. Teams representing 16 nations compete in the tournament, following a qualification process among the 54 member nations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the governing body for the sport of soccer in Africa.

The winner of the tournament will represent Africa in the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil, 15-30 June, competing in Group B along with Spain (Europe), Uruguay (South America) and Tahiti (Oceana).

Birmingham City finances are up in the air following the decision by parent group Birmingham International Holdings (BIH) to postpone the release of its financial results for a further three months.

The St Andrew’s club were left in no man’s land over future summer signings and other key finances after the parent group told the Hong Kong Stock Exchange the results would be delayed until the end of July.

BIH says the delay in publishing its financial figures is because “more additional time is required by the company’s subsidiaries in finalising its financial statements and preparing the final results of the group”.

The postponement of the results is likely to throw Blues’ future plans into further turmoil, prolonging the transfer embargo imposed by the Football League due to concerns over the parent group’s finances.

BIH has now postponed the results announcement three times, in October, January and April, and failed to meet three pledges that the accounts would be issued. It has also issued a profit warning forecasting substantial losses, largely blamed on Blues’ relegation last year.

But the latest delay is likely to be seen as the last straw by thousands of Blues fan increasingly disillusioned with the Chinese owners.

The head of England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid, Andy Anson has been confirmed as an independent director of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Anson, former commercial director at Manchester United, said: “It is an exciting moment in time to be involved with Olympic sport in the UK.”

Anson will be joined by commercial lawyer Denise Jagger as non-executive directors on the 16-strong board, with the pair holding voluntary positions over a two-year term.

The ex-European chief executive of tennis’ ATP Tour, added: “I am thrilled to be able to add my commercial and sports management experience to the BOA board to benefit Team GB athletes in London 2012 and beyond.

“I will use my global commercial insight from my work in football, tennis and the media to provide advice and guidance to support the wider family of Olympic sports.”

Anson was a public figure when England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup ended with just two votes, including one from their own representative – with Russia going on to claim the hosting rights. He was known to be hugely against the BBC’s decision to broadcast a scathing Panorama report accusing FIFA of corruption just days before the voting process.

The inaugural Pearls Golf Premier League will be broadcast live on television on the Indian sports channel Sony SIX, allergy after a deal was struck today.

Sony SIX will show all three days of the event, anesthetist which takes place on 8-10 February and will feature leading players such as Darren Clarke and Michael Campbell competing with local champions.

Shiv Kapur and Neeraj Sareen, co-founders of the Pearls Golf Premier League, said: “We are extremely pleased to join hands with Sony SIX which is one of the most credible channels for sports in India. We believe that the format of play during the GPL will be interesting for live viewing and are confident of the reach that Sony SIX can provide as a platform to help us take golf to a larger audience in India.”

Man Jit Singh, CEO of Multi Screen Media, added: “The Golf  Premier League is an important step towards the evolution of golf as a popular spectator sport in India. I am sure that the unique format, coming together of world-class players and other exciting aspects including day and night golf will make for a compelling viewing for our audience.”