By Duncan Mackay at Casa Brasil in London  

Renato Ciuchini_head_and_shouldersSeptember 2 - Rio 2016 has launched the next wave of its marketing programme for the Olympics and Paralympics and will be boosted tomorrow when the new chief commercial officer, Renato Ciuchini (pictured), officially begins his role.


Ciuchini will be the third person to hold the role in less than a year following Maggie Sanchez, who was fired last October, and Flavio Pestana, who resigned in February only a month after taking over.

An electronics engineer with a Master in business administration, Ciuchini has more than 20 years' experience in global technology and telecommunications companies. 

Before being appointed by Rio 2016, he was commercial vice-president for Latin America at Convergys, an American company that sells customer management and information management products to large corporations.

Before that he has worked for TIM, Avaya, Telecom Italia Group and AT&T.

Cuchini's appointment will allow Leonardo Gryner to return exclusively to his role of chief executive as the preparations for Rio 2016 enter a critical time with London 2012 coming to an end.

Nissan sign_sponsorship_deal_with_Rio_2016Nissan were the fifth company to sign a multi-million dollar deal to become a Tier One sponsor of Rio 2016

Gryner had been doubling up as the chief commercial officer and has launched Rio's search for Tier Two partners in nine categories having signed-up Bradesco, Bradesco Seguros, Claro, Embratel and Nissan for multi-million dollar deals.

"We were very successful with our Tier One sponsorship, raising record numbers," Gryner told insidethegames at Casa Brasil, the hospitality and exhibition centre established at Somerset House on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of London to promote Rio 2016.

"We have started our Tier Two wave and are optimistic."

Ciuchini may not officially start his new position until tomorrow but he visited London during the Olympics and is due to return this week for the Paralympics.

Leonardo Gryner_at_London_2012_August_10_2012Rio 2016 chief executive Leonardo Gryner is looking forward to the future with confidence

His appointment is a relief for Gryner after what has been a difficult year.

Sanchez was fired after, what was described as an "incompatibility of philosophies".

Pestana, meanwhile, started his role in January but was gone by the middle of February, blaming "personal reasons".

"The marketing department is now fully staffed," said Gryner. 

"We are looking forward to Rio 2016."

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