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.
Arsenal commercial chief Juliet Slot steps down
Juliet Slot, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal, has reportedly decided to step down from her role at the Premier League club after five years.
According to reports on social media, Slot has told Arsenal staff that she will be leaving in the near future. However, she has yet to make a public announcement at the time of writing.
Before joining Arsenal in 2021, Slot held roles across sport, fashion and major events, including positions with Fulham, Ascot Racecourse and Adidas.
Speaking at SportsPro Live last year, Slot shared that, in her view, modern clubs need to operate differently from traditional football structures to better understand supporter behaviour.
“We’re [Arsenal] not a football club,” she said. “We’re a global brand that plays football that really serves our supporters.”
She seemingly applied this philosophy at Arsenal, signing improved agreements with partners Adidas and Emirates, as well as adding new commercial relationships with Meta and Deel.
It is unknown who will replace her, with more details expected following an official announcement by Arsenal in the coming days.
NBA owners back Arison for top governance role
One of the NBA’s longest-serving franchise owners is heading back into one of basketball’s most influential boardroom positions.
Miami Heat owner Micky Arison has been unanimously elected as the next Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors, replacing Toronto Raptors owner Larry Tanenbaum when his term concludes following the Board of Governors meeting in September.
Arison previously held the position between 2005 and 2008, making this his second stint overseeing the league’s ownership group.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the NBA as the league continues negotiations around media rights expansion, international growth and the launch of its planned European competition.
“I look forward to working closely in this new capacity with Adam [Silver], the league office and my fellow team governors to champion our teams and players, ensuring we continue to deliver exciting and unforgettable experiences for our fans,” said Arison.
Loren Mack joins BKB as Chief Marketing Officer
Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) has appointed Loren Mack as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy.
Mack joins BKB after six years with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he served as SVP of Corporate Communications and helped lead the promotion’s global growth strategy.
Before his time at PFL, Mack held communications roles with other major combat sports organisations, including ONE Championship and UFC, arriving with more than two decades of experience across the sector.
In his new role, Mack will focus on marketing, strategic development and expanding BKB’s presence as the promotion looks to grow its audience and commercial opportunities.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of some incredible organisations throughout my career, but I truly believe this represents the biggest opportunity in combat sports today,” Mack said.
Writing for Insider Sport earlier this year, BKB CEO David Tetreault said the promotion was aiming to take bare-knuckle boxing into a new phase of growth, with a focus on expanding its audience on a global scale, strengthening media partnerships and developing the sport’s live event offering.
College Football Playoff promotes from within
The College Football Playoff (CFP) has turned to one of its longest-serving executives to oversee its financial operations.
Tim Frick has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer after nearly a decade with the organisation. Frick joined the CFP in 2016 as Director of Finance and Business Operations and succeeds Dave Marmion, who recently stepped down to become President and CEO of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
In his previous role, Frick was responsible for the CFP’s finance and accounting functions, as well as areas including human resources administration, risk management, contract management and merchandising operations.
The appointment follows changes to the college football post-season as schools and governing bodies navigate alterations made to athlete compensation and commercial opportunities.
CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said Frick’s financial expertise and leadership had helped guide the organisation through a period of growth.
“I am honoured by the opportunity to serve as Chief Financial Officer and grateful for the confidence our CFP Board of Managers and Management Committee have placed in me,” said Frick.
“It has been a privilege to support the CFP’s growth, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside our outstanding staff and partners as we build on the organisation’s success.”
Snapshot Moves
- John Lasker, ESPN’s SVP of Direct-to-Consumer, is retiring after 27 years with the company, having overseen the broadcaster’s move into digital streaming.
- Fubo has named former Disney+ President Alisa Bowen as CEO, replacing Co-Founder David Gandler after nearly a decade leading the sports streaming platform.
- AFL club the GIANTS have appointed former COO James Avery as CEO, with the executive returning after nearly three years as CEO of Stadiums Tasmania.
- Minnesota United FC has appointed former Target Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Christina Hennington as CEO, succeeding Shari Ballard, who will retire following the 2026 MLS season.
- The Rugby Football League has hired former Manchester United executive Ian Nolan as CEO, with the former Science in Sport CMO taking up the role on 1 October, 2026.
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 looked at two football federation presidents who left after disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup runs.
