Bristol City confirm appointment of new CEO ahead of Mark Ashton's departure to Ipswich Town The son of former Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers manager Bobby Gould was formerly commercial director at Bristol City please log in to view this image Bristol City have confirmed the appointment of Richard Gould as the club's new CEO with the 51-year-old joining from Surrey Cricket Club. Gould, the son of former Bristol Rovers manager Bobby Gould, replaces outgoing chief Mark Ashton who ends his five-year time in charge of the Robins' football operations on May 31. Gould previously worked as commercial director at Ashton Gate from 2001-2005 and will start work in new role from mid-June. “I am really excited to be returning to Bristol City and the area. I understand the scale of ambition and also the energy required to fulfil that," he said. "There is a lot of hard work ahead and I am looking forward to meeting the challenges we face alongside Steve, Jon, Nigel and the rest of the club.” Gould's arrival coincides with the release of 11 first-team players from Bristol City's squad by new manager Nigel Pearson who was given a three-year contract shortly before the conclusion of the 2020/21 season. It begins what's already becoming a summer of sizeable change at BS3 with Pearson holding considerable control over the football direction of the club as the Ashton-era comes to an end. As previously reported by Bristol Live, Gould was consistently one of the front-runners from the job in BS3 and his experience in the sports industry and knowledge of the club are notable attributes. A former tank commander in the British Army, Gould was educated at Bristol Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Cranfield University and Harvard Business School. “Richard has the right skills and qualities we need. He has a sport, military and business background, as well as a strong local connection, and we have no doubt that he is the right person to lead this club forward," said chairman Jon Lansdown. It remains unclear if Gould's brief will be as wide-ranging as Ashton's with his predecessor overseeing the recruitment operation in BS3 along with his day-to-day running of the club. The indication has been that Pearson will want a head of recruitment to work in tandem with. Aston Villa's Rob Mackenzie was linked earlier this week but Bristol Live understands that the 35-year-old is happy at Villa Park. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-ceo-richard-gould-5413766
The good news is he has been out of the game for a long time, so he should be what a normal CEO should be, a facilitator and not a de facto football manager unlike his predecessor.
Good to have the man back, welcome home mate. 'Gould previously worked as commercial director at Ashton Gate from 2001-2005 and will start work in new role from mid-June. “I am really excited to be returning to Bristol City and the area. I understand the scale of ambition and also the energy required to fulfil that," he said. "There is a lot of hard work ahead and I am looking forward to meeting the challenges we face alongside Steve, Jon, Nigel and the rest of the club.”
'A former tank commander in the British Army, Gould was educated at Bristol Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Cranfield University and Harvard Business School.' Wow. What a life experience. I'm in awe of that - makes my humble background look extremely bland. I will always feel that I missed out, not having served in the Armed Services. I don't have many regrets - I've had a pretty good life so far - but that is one.
I wanted to be an Army officer and tank commander. From the age of 13 (1967), when I went to the Army Careers Office on the Centre, I was told that there was no longer such a thing as class distinction within the Army Officer Corps. Coming from a south Bristol council estate and comprehensive school, that made me quite happy! In those days, entry selection was a three/four day process at Westbury in Wiltshire. In 1973, I went there by train and was collected from the station. Out of 26 candidates, I was the only one from a comp school. There was an experienced warrant officer going for his commission and the rest were from public schools. I was the only one who didn't have a car! At dinner, it was the first time I had ever seen a proper wine list, not just Blue Nun and Mateus Rose. Needless to say I didn't get in!! Interesting experience though!!
And perhaps Fammy has bought a semi by the sea. I never quite understood the words in that song but then again I felt the same about most of his work.
