Wanda Sports has reportedly hired David Yang, former Senior Vice President of Business Affairs at NBA China, as their CEO in China, according to Chinese media Lanxiong Sports.

According to the report, David Yang will replace Shen Jiaying in charge of Wanda Sports China. Following the appointment of Philippe Blatter as global CEO at Wanda Sports and Andrew Messick’s remaining at IRONMAN, the move sees another executive from outside Wanda Group’s commercial empire enter the management of Wanda’s sports arm.

As former Senior Vice President of Business Affairs at NBA China, David Yang has played an important role in signing major partnership deals with leading companies, including AB InBev, China Mobile, China Southern Airlines, Lenovo, Mengniu Dairy and Proctor & Gamble.

Prior to his last position at NBA China, Yang spent time as Managing Director of NBA Asia. His big contribution there was in organising NBA’s fund-raising in China in 2007 and the establishment of NBA China. Yang has also previously worked for Merrill Lynch Asia and Enron.

Source: Lanxiong

Proofread by John Devlin.