Milan is set to conclude its ambitious search for a new sporting director by the end of April 2025, aiming to bolster its leadership structure.
After considerable deliberations, the Italian football club has shortlisted several candidates and intends to appoint someone who can complement the work of technical director Geoffrey Moncada. Currently, Moncada lacks formal recognition as a sporting director from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) due to his training background.
With the club still considering their options, notable figures such as Andrea Berta, François Modesto, former Juventus director Fabio Paratici, and Atalanta's Tony D’Amico have emerged as primary contenders for this pivotal role.
Nevertheless, it appears Berta could be ruled out as reports indicate he is close to finalizing terms with another team, prompting the Rossoneri to focus on either Modesto, Paratici, or D’Amico as they seek to finalize their decisions soon.
The situation at AC Milan exemplifies the broader trend of high-profile searches for new leadership, reflecting the pressures on clubs and organizations to adapt to ever-changing demands within their respective industries.
Meanwhile, the New York State Museum has launched its own high-profile search for its next director, bringing on board Dr. Brent D. Glass, the former director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, to lead the initiative. Dr. Glass’s extensive experience positions him well to guide this process as the Museum seeks to define its future leadership.
The New York State Museum is seeking the right candidate to reshape its direction, reaffirming its commitment to celebrating New York’s diverse heritage through innovative exhibitions and strategic partnerships.
Reflecting on this pivotal moment, Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young Jr. noted, “We stand at a pivotal moment where preserving our history, educating the public, and advancing the work of our dedicated researchers and scientists at the State Museum is more important than ever.”
Dr. Glass expressed enthusiasm about leading the search, saying, “The Museum stands on the threshold of an exciting new era—its longstanding commitment to documenting and celebrating New York’s rich and diverse heritage positions it for remarkable growth and innovation.” The Museum’s determination to find leadership with both vision and practicality is evident, as is the importance of fostering educational outreach for future generations.
Further complicity is found within the entertainment industry, where Kathleen Kennedy, the head of Lucasfilm, faces mounting pressure to step down as the Star Wars franchise struggles with declining audience reception. Kennedy’s leadership style has been under scrutiny, particularly after mixed reviews of the recent Star Wars trilogy. Although her legacy includes successes like Rogue One and The Mandalorian, critics have begun to see her as the epitome of the challenges facing major franchises.
Industry experts believe finding Kennedy's replacement will be challenging due to the specific expertise required to navigate the Star Wars ecosystem successfully. According to Joe Rosenberg, professor at Chapman University, “They have to have a real sense of and an understaning of the Star Wars ecosystem — it’s a very specific brand.”
This sentiment highlights the demands on leaders within high-stakes industries where both creative insight and business acumen are necessities.
Former directors like Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are being considered as potential successors, emphasizing the industry's move toward familiar faces with proven abilities to re-invigorate franchises.
Lastly, as MLB explores new media options following ESPN’s recent decision to opt-out from their agreement, there’s speculation on how to best position its media rights for future negotiations.
Alex Sherman from CNBC outlined potential strategies, stating, “the best bet might be to ‘chop up the ESPN package’,” breaking it up for separate sale to entice various streaming services like Netflix. This strategy may cater to the growing interest from streamers focused on event programming.
MLB’s decisions reflect their own leadership search within media rights management, emphasizing how significant changes at the top can influence entire leagues and their operations.
Each of these initiatives, whether at AC Milan, the New York State Museum, Lucasfilm, or Major League Baseball, signifies the larger theme of adapting to change through new leadership, showcasing how the future of these organizations hinges on identifying visionaries and capable directors.
Overall, from sports to culture and entertainment, the quest for fresh perspectives drives each entity forward, ensuring they remain relevant and successful within their respective fields. The upcoming months will undoubtedly shed light on who will step forward to embrace these challenging roles.