Anjishnu Roy 02/03/2025 8comments  |  Jump to last

Everton owners The Friedkin Group are keen to appoint Leeds United’s Angus Kinner as chief executive officer (CEO) of the club ahead of their move to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, as reported by The Daily Mail.

The Toffees have been without a permanent CEO since Denise Barrett-Baxendale resigned from the role in the summer of 2023. In the absence of a permanent CEO, Colin Chong has been in the role on an interim basis and has mostly been occupied by the completion of the new 52,888-seater stadium.

The Friedkin Group are keen on appointing a CEO as soon as possible in order to oversee a new era ahead of a busy summer transfer window. Although they took a close look at Fulham’s highly-regarded Alistair Mackintosh and ex-Arsenal executive Vinai Venkatesham, Kinnear emerged as the leading prospect and TFG also enlisted the help of renowned recruiters Nolan Partners.

Kinnear has been with Leeds United since 2017. Well respected by the staff, he has taken on a wide range of roles from player transfers to the proposed expansion of Elland Road. Before moving to Yorkshire, he spent the previous four years as West Ham’s managing director. The 47-year-old also spent a decade with Arsenal as director of marketing, sales and partnerships. 

He is currently focused on overseeing Leeds United’s return to the Premier League. The Yorkshire-based club are currently leading the Championship table and are seven points clear of third with 12 matchdays remaining.

This is not the only major shakeup that the Toffees are expecting ahead of next season. Reports recently emerged about director of football Kevin Thelwell leaving his post at the end of the current term. It remains to be seen who TFG will appoint as his replacement.

 

Reader Comments (8)

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Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:47:33
I'm surprised it's taken TFG so long to sort out a CEO.
Christy Ring
2 Posted 02/03/2025 at 15:55:48
Thelwell's contract is up in the summer Paul, so it makes more sense to wait until then.
Paul Hewitt
3 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:01:04
Thelwell is not a CEO. He's a DOF. Different roles.
Rob Halligan
4 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:07:03
I thought Colin Chong was acting CEO, so no need to rush to replace him.
Paul Hewitt
5 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:12:31
The new CEO should have been ready to come in on the first day TFG took over.
Si Pulford
6 Posted 02/03/2025 at 16:33:08
Why Paul? What if the right candidate wasn't available?

If this is the guy they want. And he's got 20 years experience at the highest level, then it doesn't really matter if they have him day one or not.

David Weir rumoured to be joining. Again, someone with the CV to make them a great candidate.

This makes sense to me. A vastly experienced football man, not someone who ‘did a good job with the charity…' or ‘did a good job with the stadium…' (although I'm not for one minute belittling the contribution of Chong, who has done a great job in crazy circumstances..)

This is the kind of professional appointment we should expect.

Mike Gaynes
7 Posted 02/03/2025 at 17:17:28
Paul #1/#5, based on nothing more than sheer speculation I think it's very possible TFG did have a CEO squared up but lost her. Their former Roma CEO, Lina Souloukou, would have been the most obvious choice but, 3 days after TFG closed the Everton deal, Souloukou landed a better job at Forest from her old boss Marinakis (she's running his entire football group).

And again just speculating here, but US companies will typically not have a "second choice" lined up for CEO, but will instead re-start the search process from scratch. It took Friedkin 4 months to replace Souloukou at Roma.

That's my best guess as to why it has taken so long.

Christy Ring
8 Posted 02/03/2025 at 17:40:36
Paul #3 My apologies, I was thinking of Thelwell, DOF.

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