Arena International has also made some appointments to facilitate the implementation of its 2006-09 business plan. Christiane Nothelfer, currently general manager of Arena Deutschland and in charge of Germany and Austria, is now taking responsibility also for Switzerland and the Netherlands. Similarly Nicholas Préault, general manager of Arena France, is extending his reponsibilities to cover Belgium and Luxembourg as well. The national managers and the agents in these countries will now report to these regional managers rather than to Patrick Chollet, general manager of the international business based in Switzerland. Furthermore Roger Bath is joining the Arena group as regional sales manager for Western and Northern Europe, reporting to Chollet. The 55-year-old executive, a former professional football player in the British Premier League who worked previously for Umbro, Le Coq Sportif, Triumph International, Tyr and Wilson, he will coordinate Arena’s presence in markets such as the UK and Ireland, the Nordic countries, Spain and Portugal, while assessing development opportunities in new markets such as South Africa and Australia. Cristiano Portas, president of the group, will act as regional sales manager for Eastern and Southern Europe on an interim basis, pending the recruitment of a person who can fill this task. Among other new appointments, Sophie Bertorelli, product and marketing manager for the international business, will now concentrate on marketing, while Denise Bühler, who took over her responsibilities during her maternity leave, will become junior product manager. They will both report to Chollet.