https://www.arsenal.com/news/club-names-new-leaders-ivan-heads-italy From the Club website: Raul, head of football relations, has been appointed as head of football, and Vinai, currently chief commercial officer, becomes managing director. Josh Kroenke, deputy chairman of Arsenal’s majority owner Kroenke Sports and Entertainment UK, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Ivan. We will miss the wisdom, insight, and energy he brought to our club on a daily basis over the past decade. We are confident we have outstanding people in Raul and Vinai, and we look forward to working with them and coach Unai Emery to continue to move the club forward on and off the pitch.” Club chairman Sir Chips Keswick said: “Ivan has led Arsenal with skill and dedication and leaves us in a strong position. The club has been transformed and he has recruited talented people, such as Raul, Vinai and of course Unai Emery, who will take us to future success.” Raul joined us in February after 16 years at Barcelona where he was director of football. Vinai arrived in 2010 from London 2012 and has overseen all our commercial activities. Raul, who will lead our football activities, said: “Although I joined Arsenal just months ago, I've felt embraced by this great club and part of its family from the first day. I will do everything possible to maintain our strong values which will be as fundamental to our future as they have been in our past. Vinai and I will need everyone's help, to do everything right and secure the success everyone connected to Arsenal wants. I sincerely thank Arsenal’s board for their trust in us and thank Ivan for bringing me to this great club, and for consistently supporting me every day, in every way. It's with overwhelming pride and utmost excitement that I face this new opportunity.” Vinai, who will oversee all business operations, said: “From the day I joined Arsenal I have always considered it a privilege to serve this great football club, so it’s an honour to take up the position of managing director and lead the club alongside Raul. Together we will work tirelessly with the extraordinary staff we have at Arsenal to respect and enhance our unique history, heritage and values; with the overall objective to bring success to our millions of fans all around the world and make them proud of their club. I thank Stan and Josh Kroenke and the rest of the board for their trust in me, and Ivan for all the support he has given me since I joined the club in 2010.” please log in to view this image Ivan Gazidis, Vinai Venkatesham and Raul Sanllehi Ivan will leave by the end of October and becomes chief executive at AC Milan on December 1. He said: “For the last 10 years I have been privileged to dedicate myself to this great club. Arsenal is entering a new chapter and I have done everything I can to ensure that it is strongly placed to take on that challenge. This includes world-class facilities and outstanding leaders in every sector who carry the values of the club, including, of course, Unai Emery, Raul Sanllehi and Vinai Venkatesham in whom I have enormous faith. “We have been building on the club’s progressive social values, leading the way on the women’s game, diversity and inclusion, and establishing the Arsenal Foundation. This will remain central to the club’s philosophy. “Although it is very hard to do - the hardest decision of my life - I believe that, after 10 years, it is the right time for me to step aside to allow new leadership, energy and ideas to take the club forward into this exciting new era. I believe in the positive force of change, both for me and for the club. I am excited to see what the future holds for this great club and I am energised by a new personal challenge with AC Milan. “My sincere thanks go to Stan and Josh Kroenke for their support and guidance on everything we have done. To Sir Chips Keswick, Lord Phil Harris, Ken Friar and my wonderful management team and staff, on and off the field, to Arsène Wenger, Unai Emery and to the fans of this giant and incredible club, thank you for your immense support and friendship over so many years and for the wonderful privilege of being part of the journey. "We lived through many emotions together, the highs and the lows of football, and I am proud to be able to say that I gave this club and its fantastic people everything that I had in me. I am excited and energised for the future for myself and for Arsenal Football Club and I will always hold it in my heart.”
An excellent thread from Swiss Ramble about how Ivan Gazidis has performed for us, if anyone is interested:
Fair play, Gazidis did a good job for Arsenal. Important that he oversaw getting the final pieces of the jigsaw in place before he left. We're in good shape
I don't think Gazidis was that special. I don't see how everything was forgiven just when he got rid of Wenger. Sure he grew Arsenal's finances, but as so many of you pointed out, that isn't the purpose of a Football Club. I don't think he was a bad CEO, but he certainly wasn't anything special.
Yup, have to agree with this. Felt like he did ok, but didn't exactly pull up any trees. Reading through the analysis that Swiss Ramble formulated about Gazidis's time at Arsenal, our revenue growth % was the 2nd smallest of the 'Big Six'. And most of the revenue growth we did get was actually from the Premier League TV deals. In 2013, when he said we should be competing financially with the likes of Bayern Munich, our revenue is still £82m lower than theirs [from the latest figures]. When he said Arsenal were keeping 'power dry' for transfer fees, this hasn't turned out to be an effective strategy because transfer fees have been soaring and the pound has gotten weaker. He's on a higher salary than Ed Woodward at Manchester United and earns three times more than Peter Moore of Liverpool. Staggering. Overall, he's been alright - but won't be losing any sleep on his departure.
But we should actually replace him to not lose any sleep,if the owner's son with no expertise is going to come in..thats really bad. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
