The International Olympic Committee has appointed Anne van Ysendyck as the committee's new director of legal affairs. She replaces Howard Stupp, who leaves the role after 33 years. Stupp will stay with the Olympic Committee as a special legal adviser. Van Ysendyck took on the role in January after previously being group general counsel for steel production company ArcelorMittal. She had been at the company since 2005. Prior to moving in-house, she was a senior associate at US firm Latham & Watkins.

Shopping television network QVC has promoted ex-Clifford Chance (CC) lawyer David Martin to the role of general counsel for international. Martin, who has been at the TV network since 2013, takes on the role after previously being general counsel for Europe. His new role now extends beyond European markets to also include Japan. The UK legal team is seven-strong, while there are a further 23 people in the international legal teams. Prior to joining QVC, Martin was head of legal for LOVEFILM, which is now Amazon Video.

Pret A Manger has promoted Rita Mehta to the newly created role of general counsel. Previously, Mehta was the food and drink company's people counsel for over five years. She moved in-house to Pret in 2012 from legacy Thomas Eggar, which merged with Irwin Mitchell in December 2015. Pret A Manger HR director Andrea Wareham said: "Since day one, Rita has had a very positive influence on our business, further strengthening not only our employment practices but also providing critical support on commercial issues. Her appointment as general counsel at Pret will ensure that we continue to do the right thing for our employees and customers."

Berendsen has appointed Matthew Boland as its new head of legal to manage its UK legal team. The news comes after Berendsen's previous GC Alice Darwall left the company after nine months in the role, to join Mothercare. Boland was first hired by the textile company in August 2017 as interim corporate counsel. Boland also fulfills the role of company secretary. He joined from mining company Anglo American, where he was head of legal for Australia for close to seven years. He trained at Australian firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Brisbane.

Porterbrook Leasing, which deals in the leasing of railway stock, has hired Shoosmiths structured asset finance head Chris McClure as its general counsel. McClure was based in the firm's Southampton office for more than eight years. In a statement, McClure said: "I am very excited at the opportunity Porterbrook has given me to join the business. I look forward to this new challenge." Porterbrook's CEO Mary Grant said: "Chris has an impressive track record within the UK rail sector, with over 20 years' experience in private practice."

Stanford Law School has appointed LinkedIn's general counsel as its new executive director of the Rock Centre for Corporate Governance and as a law professor. It is currently unknown who will take over at LinkedIn. In a statement, Callahan said: "I am honoured and excited to have the opportunity to work with the distinguished faculty and staff at the Rock Centre. … I look forward to adding value to the Rock Centre's ongoing and future initiatives in corporate governance and contributing to the mission of SLS through my experience in the global technology arena." Callahan began his legal career as a corporate legal assistant and then an associate with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in offices in Washington DC, Boston and San Francisco.

Deutsche Borse has appointed former Linklaters senior partner Michael Lappe as its new general counsel. Lappe was previously a senior adviser at Jomati Consultants. He takes over from Roger Mueller, who has been in the role since April 2003. Lappe was a corporate and M&A partner at Linklaters for more than 20 years. While at the magic circle firm, Lappe was German senior partner for six years and spent time in the firm's London, Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich offices.