By Duncan Mackay

Adam_Pake_head_and_shouldersAugust 16 - Adam Paker, a former senior executive with FIFA, has been appointed as the new chief executive of Commonwealth Games England as part of its new strategy plan to maxmise the opportunity of Glasgow 2014, it was announced today.


Paker was formerly a director with FIFA's marketing and television department and is currently a sports marketing consultant working on various projects, including a review of football in Saudi Arabia.

The Oxford University modern languages gradudate joined football's world governing body from sports marketing company International Sport and Leisure (ISL), which collapsed in 2001 with huge debts and have since been at the centre of controversy after being exposed as allegedly offering bribes to several senior FIFA executives, including Ricardo Teixeira, the head of the Organising Committee for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Paker worked for FIFA until 2005 when he joined gambling company 888.com, where he was head of global sports.

There his activities included negotiating main sponsorship of Sevilla Football Club in Spain and the title sponsorship of the World Snooker Championship, one of the largest sports sponsorships ever by an internet company.

Since leaving there he has worked for Havas Sports and Hill & Knowlton. 

Paker, a keen runner, is currently a consultant with Threshold Sports, the company co-launched by double Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell. 

Paker will replace Ann Hogbin who is leaving the CGE after nearly 20 years.

He will officially start his new role on October 3 but will attend the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man next month. 

"I am very much looking forward to joining the CGE team and leading the delivery of CGE's strategy to grow and develop the organisation and demonstrate our commitment to sport and athletes across England," said Paker.

Don_ParkerThe CGE have also officially announced the appointment of Don Parker (pictured) as its new sports director.

The former graduate from Loughborough College represented England at table tennis over 200 times.

He was appointed England's national coach and team manager 1978, a position he held until 1995, when he joined the British Olympic Association as Deputy Technical Director.

He moved to the CGE as Sports Liaison Officer in 1997 and has played a key role in the last three Commonwealth Games and last four Olympic Games.

He is used by both Sport England and UK Sport as a World Class Advisor.

His wife Jill was the table tennis team manager for Team England at the Manchester and Melbourne Commonwealth Games, whilst his daughter Katy was a playing member in 2002.

"I am pleased to confirm the appointments of Adam and Don to lead the CGE team," said Sir Andrew Foster, the chairman of the CGE.

"This is an exciting time for CGE and I am confident that they can build on our solid foundations to implement the new CGE Strategy for 2011 to 2014 and work with our partners to prepare for a successful and unforgettable Games in Glasgow 2014."

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