Sheffield International Venues (SIV) has appointed a new director of operations.

Lorenzo Clark, 39, will be responsible for the development of SIV’s portfolio of international and community sports venues, which is one of the largest in Europe.

Clark, a water polo player who represented Wales at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, joined SIV in 2005 as general manager of the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (EISS).

He takes over as director of operations from Sean Nolan, who has now been appointed as SIV’s director of business development.

Clark, who is from north Wales but lives in Leeds, has more than 20 years of industry experience having previously managed Hambleton Leisure Centre, in Northallerton, and a number of centres for Leeds City Council including the South Leeds Stadium.

He says: “My role will involve helping to drive community participation and champion elite sports development, manage the expansion of SIV in the UK and China, and showcase south Yorkshire as a training base where teams can prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.”

SIV operates 14 venues across Sheffield including Don Valley Stadium, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and Sheffield City Hall.