The Christian Nourry thread

[awjm]

Just thought I'd make this thread to group together thoughts and articles about the new CEO, and talk about the direction he seems to be taking the club.

Article on BBC that came out when he first joined:

Christian Nourry: QPR appoint 26-year-old chief executive in place of Lee Hoos
12 January 2024

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QPR chief executive Christian Nourry takes over with the Rs in the Championship relegation zone, four points from safety

QPR have named 26-year-old Christian Nourry as chief executive, replacing Lee Hoos who continues as chairman.

Nourry has worked in football for five years, most recently with football data analytics and advisory business Retexo.

His role included advising major European clubs and owners, and leading an audit of the Rs in 2023.

After eight years as CEO, Hoos told the Hoops website: "Christian is extremely competent and bridges a number of gaps that need to be bridged."

Retexo was credited as being instrumental in the club's recruitment of director of performance Ben Williams and head coach Marti Cifuentes.

Nourry said: "I am looking forward to working for QPR and to lead the club as it enters a new chapter, one which the fans deserve.

"I am happy to be continuing the work which I have already been undertaking with the owners following their deep period of reflection since the end of last season. I am truly excited by the next-generation football project that we are building together."

The club's owners Ruben Gnanalingam, Amit Bhatia and Richard Reilly were unanimous in their decision to bring Nourry on board.

Gnanalingam said: "He has a proven track record of achieving success for football clubs he has worked with around the world and his expertise has already enabled us to identify and recruit two outstanding professionals.

"We believe in Christian's long-term vision and look forward to an exciting future under his guidance."

Article today on his thoughts r.e. recent signings:

CEO Christian Nourry has reflected on the work conducted by the club during the January transfer window.
Michael Frey (pictured below) joined QPR permanently, followed this week by Lucas Andersen, while Isaac Hayden and Joe Hodge have moved to W12 on loan for the remainder of the season from Newcastle United and Wolves respectively.

Nourry, who himself joined the club three weeks’ ago, said at the time of his arrival that QPR were not in a position to strengthen the squad for the second half of the campaign.

“When I arrived at the club, the view was that any incomings were going to be very, very difficult to achieve owing to the financial fair play situation that we have, which everyone is aware of,” he said.

“It was whether there were possibilities for player movement out which would then enable us to reinvest some of that money, albeit a limited amount, back into the squad to try to give this club and the fans a boost as we work to build something exciting here.”

That was achieved through the loan departures of Andre Dozzell (Birmingham), Stephen Duke McKenna (Sutton United), Charlie Kelman (Wigan) and Deon Woodman (Wealdstone).

“That’s the first part of the equation,” Nourry said.

“The second part is that the January transfer window, when you look at the historical deal flow data, is very challenging to find the right players that can make an immediate impact, the sort of impact that we want to see.

“Successful January signings tend to come down to personality profile, and what the objectives are of the players who have come in.

“I feel very fortunate to say that the four players we have signed have all shown immense, immense desire to be here with us despite our league position when, frankly, all of them had approaches and offers from other teams in this division.

“I must also show my thanks to Wolves and Newcastle for working with us to find a way for Joe and Isaac to have the opportunity to play for us, whilst taking into account our financial situation.”

Frey completed his move from Royal Antwerp while Andersen joined Rangers after leaving Aalborg.

The contract lengths for both were not confirmed in the announcements, and Nourry explained: “We are in a unique context. I don’t care whether you have four years or four months remaining on your contract. We are all going into battle together for a common goal which is to attempt to keep this club in the Championship.

“The club’s policy on all contracts going forward is simple. We won’t be making an announcement on their lengths.

“We know what we are working towards with each player’s situation and we understand where the development of those contracts can go.

“But I think it is important for the club as an institution to work as hard and as smart in the market as possible, and that includes taking this step for strategic purposes.”

Nourry also discussed how the approach behind player identification has worked, and why it can differ in January to that of a summer transfer window.

“The process has worked well between a data screen, video and live scouting screen, the deal-making reality and my perspective,” he said.

“We were then able to compile a list of names in the positions we wanted to strengthen, and sit down – myself, the recruitment department and Martí (Cifuentes) – to discuss what we do.

“Due to the nature of some of these signings, in this case the two loans which are short-term, it was vital that we were all completely aligned in the view they could add value.

“It’s important to note that there will be a demarcation between what happens in January and what happens going forward, as we will have more time as a collective to prepare, but I am delighted to say that everybody played an important part in the recruitment process, and, given our financial context, we are all happy with how things have gone.”

Following the closure of the window, Nourry has been pleased with the efforts to complete the four signings, adding: “I have found that everybody here at the club cares so deeply and, when provided with clear direction, is willing to work as hard as necessary to get things done.

“I am grateful to everyone; the board; the recruitment team; the performance and medical team; the legal admin; they have all worked exceptionally hard to enable us to get these transfers across the line.

“We must all do what we can – staff and fans – to get behind Martí and the squad between now and the end of the season.”

For me, it seems like a really good move to bring him in. No matter where you look, people are full of praise for him. He's helped make some really important appointments, on and off the pitch. He's young and seems to have fresh ideas.

I hope we slowly find a way to 'do a Brentford': a slow shaping up of the club into a well oiled machine, based on actual expertise and data, gradually becoming sustainable and then who knows!..

 

[SW Ranger]

A good start from the young lad.
Will be interesting to see how he deals with fan criticism when it eventually comes along. Has been the downfall of many a CEO as far as fans are concerned.
All good so far though.

 

[Frome-Ranger]

Win on Saturday and he'll already attain godlike status, this is the fan base that worshipped at the alter of Tony Fernandes.

 

[Rangers Til I Die]

He appears to be a remarkably gifted and intelligent young man. His arrival, like Marti's, seems very timely indeed provided they can save us from the drop this season.

 

[Stroller]

I really like the sound of Nourry, jargon aside. The January transfer dealings have been almost miraculous considering our financial position. Early days, but a big thumbs up from me.

 

[awjm]

He appears to be a remarkably gifted and intelligent young man. His arrival, like Marti's, seems very timely indeed provided they can save us from the drop this season.

I think it's often the case that if there are good, strong, positive and determined leaders, any organisation can go from strength to strength. It kind of filters throughout the whole outfit, hopefully down to the players.

 

[Didley Squat]

I thought this was going to be a churchie type thread ….. but as long as he’s scoring & we’re winning, praise the lord!