NYON: European federation UEFA has a new head of communications. He is 38-year-old David Farrelly who first joined UEFA in 1997 writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Farrelly will report directly to general secretary Gianni Infantino with the incorporation of the communications department in the President’s and Executive Office.

The one-time Financial Times journalist steps up after the departures last month of long-serving Robert Faulkner (as head of media and corporate PR) and Alexandre Fourtoy (director of communications). He has merged the responsibilities of media relations and PR with digital and publications responsibilities.

Farrelly was appointed as UEFA’s internet editor in 1997 as internet editor and progressed to both UEFA New Media and UEFA Media Technologies, where he held positions of Editor-in-Chief, Head of Web & Content. Later he was appointed in 2010 as Head of Online & Publishing.

A history and politics graduate from University College, Dublin, he worked journalistically for the Daily Mirror, Ireland on Sunday, The Irish News and then the Financial Times before moving to UEFA.

This follows major changes in the media make-up 18 months across in Zurich at world federation FIFA where former war correspondent Walter Degregorio now directs the message. FIFA has been advertising for further staff as it continues its own efforts to  expand its corporate PR efforts.

 

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