Former Manchester United supremo Peter Kenyon has confirmed that he has accepted the job of chief executive officer of the Chelsea group of companies.
Peter Kenyon: Laughing all the way to the bank? (NealSimpson/Empics)
Kenyon, who took the top job with United in August 2000, today handed in his resignation at Old Trafford to oversee new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's multi-million pound reshaping of the club.
Oil tycoon Abramovich has splashed out over £100m on players this summer and Kenyon's arrival is the first step in making the Blues' boardroom into one of Europe's heavyweights. While Chelsea's current chief executive, Trevor Birch, will be invited to remain in a senior role.
A statement from Kenyon confirmed: 'Peter Kenyon has been employed by Manchester United plc for just over six years. He has enjoyed his time at the club enormously.
'However the new opportunity that has arisen at Chelsea represents a challenge that Mr Kenyon feels is right to take at this stage in his career.'
Earlier today United confrimed in a statement that managing director David Gill would succeed Kenyon 'with immediate effect'.
'The board of Manchester United plc is delighted to announce the appointment of David Gill as its new chief executive with immediate effect, to replace Peter Kenyon who has resigned today,' it read.
'Mr Kenyon will now go on 'garden leave' in accordance with the terms of his contract.'
Manchester United plc chairman Sir Roy Gardner added: 'We would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to the success of Manchester United on and off the pitch in the last six years.
'David, as managing director, has also played a major role in that success, and we are delighted that his appointment will bring both experience and continuity to this position.'
During his time at Old Trafford Kenyon presided over the big money captures of Ruud van Nistelrooy (£19m), Juan Veron (£28.1m), Rio Ferdinand (£30m) and the high-profile sale of David Beckham to Real Madrid for £25m.
But despite playing an instrumental role in persuading manager Sir Alex Ferguson to extend his stay at United, he sold Juan Sebastian Veron to Chelsea for a £13million loss this summer and failed to make an expected bid for Damien Duff, who also joined the Blues.
Interestingly Kenyon will swap the need to satisfty Manchester United plc's shareholders for a big-spending, newly-formed private company under Abramovich, where there will be less pressure to keep a tight hold on the purse strings.
Manchester-born Kenyon, who made his name with Chelsea's current kit suppliers Umbro, will be hoping to mirror the big-money deals that brought Vodafone and Nike to United.
Manchester United are expected to confirm Kenyon's move to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=276610&cc=4716
Peter Kenyon: Laughing all the way to the bank? (NealSimpson/Empics)
Kenyon, who took the top job with United in August 2000, today handed in his resignation at Old Trafford to oversee new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's multi-million pound reshaping of the club.
Oil tycoon Abramovich has splashed out over £100m on players this summer and Kenyon's arrival is the first step in making the Blues' boardroom into one of Europe's heavyweights. While Chelsea's current chief executive, Trevor Birch, will be invited to remain in a senior role.
A statement from Kenyon confirmed: 'Peter Kenyon has been employed by Manchester United plc for just over six years. He has enjoyed his time at the club enormously.
'However the new opportunity that has arisen at Chelsea represents a challenge that Mr Kenyon feels is right to take at this stage in his career.'
Earlier today United confrimed in a statement that managing director David Gill would succeed Kenyon 'with immediate effect'.
'The board of Manchester United plc is delighted to announce the appointment of David Gill as its new chief executive with immediate effect, to replace Peter Kenyon who has resigned today,' it read.
'Mr Kenyon will now go on 'garden leave' in accordance with the terms of his contract.'
Manchester United plc chairman Sir Roy Gardner added: 'We would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to the success of Manchester United on and off the pitch in the last six years.
'David, as managing director, has also played a major role in that success, and we are delighted that his appointment will bring both experience and continuity to this position.'
During his time at Old Trafford Kenyon presided over the big money captures of Ruud van Nistelrooy (£19m), Juan Veron (£28.1m), Rio Ferdinand (£30m) and the high-profile sale of David Beckham to Real Madrid for £25m.
But despite playing an instrumental role in persuading manager Sir Alex Ferguson to extend his stay at United, he sold Juan Sebastian Veron to Chelsea for a £13million loss this summer and failed to make an expected bid for Damien Duff, who also joined the Blues.
Interestingly Kenyon will swap the need to satisfty Manchester United plc's shareholders for a big-spending, newly-formed private company under Abramovich, where there will be less pressure to keep a tight hold on the purse strings.
Manchester-born Kenyon, who made his name with Chelsea's current kit suppliers Umbro, will be hoping to mirror the big-money deals that brought Vodafone and Nike to United.
Manchester United are expected to confirm Kenyon's move to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=276610&cc=4716
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