Welcome to Sideline Moves, Insider Sport’s weekly roundup spotlighting the key moves that are 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.
World Cup exits end two long-term tenures
Saudi Arabia and South Korea have both seen football federation presidents depart this week following disappointing performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Yasser Al-Misehal resigned as President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), taking responsibility for the Green Falcons’ early elimination from the tournament. Al-Misehal, who had held the role for seven years, said the result fell short of the ambitions of Saudi football and its supporters.
“I accept full responsibility for the disappointing campaign,” Al-Misehal said, adding that his departure would allow for a new phase for Saudi football to begin.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its football programme in recent years, attracting global stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema through expensive contracts.
The strategy has been to raise the profile of the Saudi Pro League, gain international attention for the country’s football ambitions and increase domestic interest in the sport. However, that short-lived spending spree appears to be coming to an end sooner than anticipated.
Chung Mong-gyu resigned as President of the Korea Football Association (KFA) after 13 years in charge. Chung had already announced plans to leave the organisation after the World Cup, but brought forward his departure following South Korea’s failure to reach the knockout stage.
“While shouldering a major responsibility as head of the KFA, I have pursued nothing but development and glory for Korean football,” Chung said.
IMG looks to connect global operations
IMG has appointed Jackie Stevenson as its newly created Chief Client & Operations Officer.
Reporting to IMG President Adam Kelly, Stevenson will spearhead client delivery and operations worldwide, aiming to bring together the company’s consulting, media rights, brand partnerships, production, digital, data and event management arms.
The appointment is part of IMG’s centralised leadership structure announced in April, which seeks to help more than 250 rightsholders and partners grow and create commercial value across sport and entertainment.
Stevenson joins IMG after most recently serving as Global Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at M+C Saatchi. She brings more than three decades of experience across marketing, media, sport and entertainment, including co-founding The Brooklyn Brothers before its acquisition by IPG.
“Jackie brings exceptional experience leading growth and transformation across complex global organisations,” Kelly said. “She has operated at scale, built and integrated businesses, and understands what it takes to deliver for multi-market partners.”
Rajasthan Royals chief moves into basketball
Former Rajasthan Royals CEO Jake Lush McCrum has been named CEO of the India Basketball League (IBL), taking charge of the competition ahead of its 2027 launch.
The British sports executive will relocate to Mumbai to lead the league’s strategic direction and commercial development as ACG Sports looks to build basketball’s first fully professional domestic competition in India.
Lush McCrum spent eight years with the Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals, helping oversee the growth of its commercial, digital and global brand operations.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jake to the helm of ACG Sports. His combination of global experience with a deep immersion in India fits perfectly with what we are trying to achieve with the IBL,” said Karan Singh, Owner and Managing Director of ACG Sports.
Basketball’s popularity has been rising in recent years, with the NBA currently exploring the launch of a European competition that has generated excitement among fans and potential investors.
The sport will face a significant challenge in India, however, where it will compete for attention against established sports such as cricket, kabaddi and football.
PFL delivers knock-out appointment with new Comms lead
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has hired Suzy Berkowitz as its first-ever Chief Communications Officer.
Reporting to CEO John Martin, Berkowitz will lead PFL’s worldwide communications efforts, covering corporate communications, executive positioning, media relations and brand campaigns.
Berkowitz joins from a career spanning media, entertainment and technology, including senior roles at Refinery29, SundanceTV and Entertainment Weekly.
Since taking over as CEO in 2025, former Turner executive Martin has placed media, storytelling and brand awareness at the heart of the organisation’s growth plans.
Speaking to Insider Sport last year, Martin highlighted that PFL’s product needed greater visibility, stating that “our product is considerably better than our brand awareness”.
“PFL isn’t simply growing. It’s redefining what the next generation of sports organisations can become,” Martin said. “We’re building a global brand at the intersection of sports, media, and entertainment and communications is essential to that evolution.”
Berkowitz spoke of similar ideas in recent comments, explaining that behind every fighter is a story to tell, as she pledged to help shine a brighter light on PFL’s roster of athletes.
Snapshot Moves
- MSG Sports has promoted Quentin Dolan to President, COO and Alternate Governor of the New York Rangers.
- Leander Paes has been named Player Ambassador by the Asian Tennis Federation, with the tennis legend set to support grassroots programmes, mentor young players and promote the sport across the continent.
- MLB has named Indian cricket star Suryakumar Yadav as an ambassador, with the T20 World Cup winner set to boost baseball’s presence in India.
- Jeremy Lin has celebrated five years as a UNICEF Ambassador with a visit to the Philippines, where the NBA champion supported the organisation’s work
- PumpLab has named bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray as Global Brand Ambassador to support the launch of a co-developed Signature Series.
We’re spotlighting the movers and shakers shaping the sports business every Friday.
Submit your people moves to Insider Sport’s Editor, Louis Thompsett, at [email protected] to be featured in the next edition of Sideline Moves.
Catch up on last week’s Sideline Moves that delved into Manchester City‘s replacement for Pep Guardiola.
