Insider Sport’s weekly roundup spotlighting the key moves shaping the business of sport.
Kylian Mbappé ended a near-20-year Nike relationship to sign with Swiss brand On, which also named Thierry Henry its Director of Football.
RAJ Sports named Mike Whitehead its first CEO, the Los Angeles Clippers appointed John Gibson Interim Governor and CEO, and Karan Yadav became CEO of the Indian Super League.
Mbappé signs with On as brand enters football
On signed Kylian Mbappé and named Thierry Henry its Director of Football, the company announced on 18 September. The deal ends Mbappé’s association with Nike, which began when he was a child and ran for close to 20 years.
Mbappé’s Nike contract expired on 31 July, and Nike chose not to renew it, a source told CNBC. The Real Madrid and France forward becomes a global ambassador for On and will work with its product teams as the brand develops football footwear and apparel. On plans to launch its first football boots in 2027.
The agreement includes an equity stake, making Mbappé a shareholder in On, according to reporting by The Athletic. The partnership runs for 10 years, and financial terms were not disclosed. On also named FC Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib to help develop and test its football apparel.
Henry has held the director of football role privately since 2025, On said, and helped persuade Mbappé to join once his Nike contract ended. On began in 2010 as a running-shoe maker and added Roger Federer as a co-owner in 2019.
Mbappé also holds football business interests, having become football’s youngest majority club owner in 2024 with the acquisition of an 80% stake in French club SM Caen through his investment company.
RAJ Sports names Mike Whitehead first CEO
RAJ Sports named Mike Whitehead its first CEO, the company announced on 24 September. Whitehead joined RAJ Sports in 2023 as Managing Director and will report to Co-founders Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage. RAJ Sports owns the Portland Thorns of the NWSL and the Portland Fire, the incoming WNBA team.
The company promoted John Torris to Chief Commercial Officer, Elise di Sabella to Chief Administrative Officer, Ben Jahnke to Chief Financial Officer, Kimberly Veale to Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, and Kyle Burns to Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service.
Clare Hamill became President of the Portland Fire, and Erica Menze joined as Vice President of Legal. Thorns President Alexis Lee and Vice President of Marketing Todd Adams left the organisation.
Clippers name John Gibson interim governor and CEO
The Los Angeles Clippers named Los Angeles trial lawyer John Gibson Interim Governor and CEO, the NBA confirmed on 21 September. Gibson oversees the club’s basketball and business operations and started immediately.
Gibson is a former litigation partner at DLA Piper and previously served as the Clippers’ lead trial counsel during the sale of the team from Donald Sterling to Steve Ballmer. Ballmer nominated Gibson while facing a one-year suspension, which followed the NBA’s investigation into salary-cap circumvention allegations involving former forward Kawhi Leonard.
Indian Super League names Karan Yadav CEO
The Indian Super League (ISL) appointed Karan Yadav as CEO. Yadav takes responsibility for the league’s strategic, commercial and organisational direction and will work with the participating clubs and the All India Football Federation.
Yadav co-founded the football publication TheHardTackle.com in 2010 and served as its Editor-in-Chief. The appointment comes as the ISL moves to a club-led commercial model, under which the clubs hold commercial rights and administrative control.
Snapshot moves
Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, was elected Chair of the NHL Board of Governors, with Calgary Flames owner Murray Edwards as Vice Chair.
The World Surf League hired Hal Oreif as Chief Technology Officer. Oreif joins from Amazon and previously served as Chief Technology Officer at IAC and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Next League hired Jason Lumsden as Senior Vice President of Growth and Business Transformation. Lumsden joins from Verndale and previously worked at Fenway Sports and the Boston Red Sox.
Clare Barrell, World Rugby‘s Director of International Relations and Member Services, joined the advisory board of the African Collaborations Group.
Savannah James joined LOVB Los Angeles as an investor ahead of the volleyball franchise’s first season.
Old Dominion named Tim House Athletic Director, effective 1 January 2027. House joins from Michigan State.
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.
Related: Insider Sport’s latest Partnership Playbook rounds up the week’s commercial deals.
Catch up on last week’s Sideline Moves, which led with Arsenal promoting Omar Shaikh to its first chief revenue officer.
