The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has added a vice-president and head of strategy and operations to its roster, with NBA Africa's John Manyo-Plange named to the role.
Manyo, as he is known, is NBA Africa's head of business operations, and will take charge of BAL's strategic planning ahead of the league's launch in March 2020.
The 12-team league, which will comprise of clubs across the continent, will benefit from the Ghanaian's significant business and marketing experience, gained across 20 years in the NBA, both in the US and Africa.
Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA VP and managing director for Africa, said of Manyo-Plange: "Over the last decade, Manyo has been instrumental in the continued growth of basketball and the NBA's brand across Africa.
"He has helped expand the NBA's business across the continent, and I look forward to continuing to build the BAL and African basketball ecosystem with Manyo's support and leadership."
The BAL will be the NBA and FIBA's first jointly-operated league outside North America, and will see games played in Cairo (Egypt), Dakar (Senegal), Lagos (Nigeria), Luanda (Angola), Rabat (Morocco), and Tunisia. The final Four and Final will be played in Kigali, Rwanda.