Insider Sport’s weekly roundup of the key executive moves in the business of sport.
- LA28 has named former Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy to lead its Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies.
- Audi has appointed a new CEO to run its Formula 1 power unit operation.
- Charlton Athletic has filled a chief executive vacancy that had been open since March 2025.
- Angel City FC has added two senior commercial hires.
Read this week’s Sideline Moves below.
Kennedy replaces Rice as LA28 Head of Ceremonies
LA28 has named film producer Kathleen Kennedy as Head of Ceremonies and Content for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She will be Executive Producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Kennedy takes over from Peter Rice, who continues as Executive Producer for LA28. The appointment came a little over a week after Rice was named Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, replacing Bela Bajaria. Kennedy stepped down as President of Lucasfilm in January after a run that began in 2012.
She joins Executive Producer and Creative Director Ben Winston and veteran Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies producer Scott Givens. The LA28 Olympic opening ceremony is on 14 July 2028, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.
LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman said: “Kathleen is a legend,” while Kennedy added: “sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share.”
Audi appoints ex-Mercedes engine chief Fuhr
Thomas Fuhr will become CEO of Audi Formula Racing GmbH on 1 November. The company, based in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, develops and manufactures the power unit for Audi’s Formula 1 project.
Fuhr was Andy Cowell’s predecessor at Mercedes. He takes the role vacated by Adam Baker in May 2025. Under the new structure, Stefan Dreyer will focus on the technical development of the Audi F1 Power Unit, and Christian Foyer continues to oversee operations at the Neuburg site.
Jürgen Rittersberger, CFO of AUDI AG, said: “This appointment further strengthens the structure we have established at Audi Formula Racing.” Fuhr said: “I am proud to join Audi’s Formula 1 project.”
Charlton ends 19-month search with Mansford
Charlton Athletic have appointed Ben Mansford as their new Chief Executive. The position had been vacant since March 2025, when it was announced that Charlie Methven was leaving.
Mansford has held CEO roles at Leeds United, Barnsley and Blackpool, and has had two spells at Maccabi Tel Aviv. At Maccabi he also served as Sporting Director. He takes up the role with immediate effect after completing the EFL Owners’ and Directors’ Test and receiving approval from the Independent Football Regulator.
Chairman Gavin Carter said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to attract someone of Ben’s calibre.”
Angel City adds CMO and CRO
Angel City FC has appointed Jenna Hauca as Chief Marketing Officer and Ali D’Andrea as Chief Revenue Officer. Both will report to CEO Amy Taylor, who joined the club in July 2026.
Hauca joins from CrossFit, where she has been Chief Marketing Officer since March 2024. D’Andrea joins from Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. Hauca will start on 2 November, and D’Andrea on 9 November.
Taylor said: “Jenna and Ali bring exactly what we need for this next chapter.”
Snapshot Moves
- Burton Albion has appointed Adam Benson as CEO. Benson has held senior executive and commercial roles at Wasps, Gloucester Rugby and Reading FC.
- Minor League Baseball’s Nashville Sounds have promoted Doug Scopel to Chief Operating Officer and named Danielle Gaw General Manager.
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, where Axel Hellmann took the Eintracht Frankfurt top job.
