Welcome to Sideline Moves, Insider Sport’s weekly roundup spotlighting the key moves shaping the business of sport.
Every Friday, we bring you the latest executive appointments, strategic hires, boardroom shifts, and behind-the-scenes deals from across the global sports industry – all in one place.
Herta switches gears with Cadillac F1 test driver role and F2 step-down
INDYCAR ace Colton Herta will join Cadillac Formula 1® Team as a test driver in 2026, while also stepping down to compete in Formula 2 in 2025 in a bid to finally secure his F1 Super Licence.
Herta, who has nine IndyCar wins to his name but lacks sufficient FIA points, leaves Andretti to pursue his long-held dream.
Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss confirmed the move on the Off Track podcast, calling it a “big risk” and commending Herta’s decision to “get uncomfortable” for a shot at the grid.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez remain Cadillac’s race drivers through 2027, but Herta’s F2 season could shape his future as the team eyes long-term US talent.
DFL elects new Executive Committee and confirms Watzke as Chair
The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga has confirmed its top leadership for the 2025–2029 term following its General Assembly in Berlin.
Hans-Joachim Watzke (Borussia Dortmund) was unanimously re-elected as Speaker of the DFL Executive Committee and Chair of the DFL GmbH Supervisory Board. He will be supported by Oliver Leki (SC Freiburg) and Oke Göttlich (FC St. Pauli) as deputies.
Executives from FC Bayern, Eintracht Frankfurt, Holstein Kiel and SpVgg Greuther Fürth also join the committee, alongside DFL Co-CEOs Marc Lenz and Steffen Merkel.
The vote also finalised appointments to the Licensing Committee and Supervisory Board, while former German constitutional judge Peter Müller was named head of the league’s arbitration tribunal.
Football Association of Singapore appoints Badri Ghent as General Secretary
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has confirmed the departure of General Secretary Chun-Liang Chew, with former Lion City Sailors FC Sporting Director Badri Ghent stepping into the role.
Ghent brings over a decade of experience in Singaporean football, having previously served as the youngest General Manager in the Singapore Premier League at Home United and led the Sailors to domestic titles and a historic AFC Champions League Two final.
His appointment comes as FAS seeks a new national team head coach and aims to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup finals for the first time.
AC Horsens appoints Jacob Jørgensen as CEO
AC Horsens has named Jacob Jørgensen as Chief Executive Officer, bringing a decade of commercial leadership experience from FC Midtjylland.
Jørgensen was instrumental in building one of Denmark’s most innovative club commercial strategies and now steps into the top job at Horsens with a mandate to elevate off-field performance.
His appointment comes as the club enjoys a strong start to the season and signals its ambition to match on-pitch success with administrative excellence. Club chairman Bill Binnie called it “a new era” for the organisation, while Jørgensen cited the “clear potential” within the club and community.
Brent Hill named CMO for Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games
The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee has appointed Brent Hill as Chief Marketing Officer ahead of the Games’ transition from planning to delivery.
Hill, who previously led Tourism Fiji and served as CMO of the South Australian Tourism Commission, begins his new role on 1 November. Backed by CEO Cindy Hook and President Andrew N. Liveris, Hill will be responsible for overseeing brand, marketing, experiential campaigns, and global activations for the multi-billion dollar event.
He returns to Australia with two decades of experience in high-impact international campaigns across tourism, retail, finance and government.
“We have an incredible opportunity to elevate the city and state on the global stage like never before,” said Hill.
Liverpool FC adds club executives to its board of directors
Liverpool Football Club has appointed Jenny Beacham, CFO, and Jonathan Bamber, chief legal and external affairs officer, to its statutory board of directors.
After 13 years’ service, managing director Andy Hughes will retire from LFC at the end of the season and will step down from the board.
Among his other duties, Hughes is the director fulfilling the legal and regulatory requirement for board-level engagement with the club’s Supporters Board. Bamber will assume that responsibility by joining the board of directors.
These changes will also see Billy Hogan, chief executive officer, come off the board. Hogan will remain CEO of LFC, a position he has held since 2020, and Fenway Sports Group International.
Sunderland appoints former Formula E CFO Mike Papadimitriou
Sunderland AFC has named Mike Papadimitriou as its new Chief Financial Officer, expanding his role within Bia Sports Group, the ownership vehicle of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori.
Papadimitriou brings senior financial leadership experience from his decade-long stint at Formula E and seven years at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Discovery Networks International.
Having already supported the club during its 2024–25 campaign, he now joins the executive team full-time to help guide Sunderland’s strategic and sustainable growth as it returns to the Premier League.
Olympic medallist Meissnitzer joins FIS President’s Office
Two-time world champion and triple Olympic medallist Alexandra Meissnitzer has joined the FIS – The International Ski and Snowboard Federation as a senior figure in the President’s Office.
Starting 1 September, she will lead special projects to help strengthen the global promotion of skiing and snowboarding. Meissnitzer transitions from her role as a commentator for Austrian broadcaster ORF, bringing with her elite sport and media experience.
FIS President Johan Eliasch praised her as a “true champion” whose combined communication and competition credentials will benefit athletes and the wider snowsports community.
Snapshot Moves:
- London Roosters star Lewis King has been named as England’s captain for their wheelchair Ashes tour of Australia.
- Former world judo start Natalie Powell OLY has been appointed to lead Wales’ Commonwealth Judo squad for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
- Colchester United Football Club boss Danny Cowley and assistant Nicky Cowley have signed two-year contract extensions with the League Two club.
We’re spotlighting the movers and shakers shaping the sports business every Friday.
Submit your people moves to Insider Sport’s Editor, Rachael Kennedy, at [email protected] and be featured in Sideline Moves.
Catch up on last week’s Sideline Moves to learn who Aston Villa Women chose as their new MD.
September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/
