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.
Michele Kang moves to take sole control of Olympique Lyonnais
American businesswoman Michele Kang has agreed a deal worth up to €101m (|$115m) to acquire full majority control of Olympique Lyonnais, ending John Textor‘s ownership of the French club and completing her emergence as a leading figure in global women’s football.
The agreement, announced June 23, sees Kang purchase an 87.78% stake in Eagle Football Group‘s holding entity for $30m, with a further €71m injected to restructure Lyon’s debts.
Kang already owns the club’s women’s side and has chaired the holding company since mid-2025. “It is with a great sense of responsibility and immense honour that I am joining this process,” Kang said.
Completion remains conditional on France’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, confirming Lyon’s Ligue 1 status before the end of the month.
PGA Tour elects Rolapp as commissioner
The PGA Tour has elected Brian Rolapp as its next Commissioner, adding the title to his existing role as CEO – the first time in the organisation’s history both positions have been held by one person.
The boards confirmed the appointment on June 23, the same day the Tour unveiled a two-tier competition model – the Championship Series and Challenger Series, featuring promotion and relegation – set to begin in 2028.
Rolapp succeeds Jay Monahan, who steps down at year-end. “I believe these changes put us in a much better position to compete,” Rolapp said.
Hearts appoint Vrancken as McInnes successor
Heart of Midlothian have appointed Belgian Wouter Vrancken as Head Coach, filling the vacancy created by Derek McInnes‘ departure to Rangers earlier this month.
Vrancken, 47, arrives from Sint-Truiden, where he guided the club to third place in the Belgian Pro League last season and was named Coach of the Year. He brings assistants Tim Smolders and Cederique Tulleners with him to Tynecastle.
His first competitive match is a Champions League second qualifying round first leg against Sturm Graz on July 21.
Charlton appoint Curbishley as Head of Artificial Intelligence?
In the week’s most unexpected appointment, Charlton Athletic named legendary former manager Alan Curbishley as the club’s new Head of Artificial Intelligence — 20 years after he last departed The Valley.
Unveiled ahead of Thursday’s fixture release, the tongue-in-cheek announcement noted that the club’s AI systems had analysed billions of data points before “unanimously concluding that Alan Curbishley was, statistically, Alan Curbishley.”
His remit, the club said, will span machine learning, predictive analytics and the modelling of Blackwall Tunnel traffic for away trips.
Snapshot Moves
- Cosm named former NetEase Games and WarnerMedia attorney David Ho as its first Chief Legal Officer, reporting to CEO Jeb Terry.
- Accelerate Media appointed former IMG and Playfly executive John Willi as President alongside the launch of its new Accelerate Sports Network.
- US Speedskating confirmed Keith Bryant as CEO, succeeding Ted Morris after 13 years, effective August
