Arnold set to become United's first CEO since 2013
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LONDON • Manchester United will promote current managing director Richard Arnold to become their new chief executive officer in the coming days, effectively replacing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward as the head of off-pitch affairs.
Arnold, 50, is set to become one of the most powerful figures in English football, according to multiple British media reports.
A spokesperson for the Red Devils, who have not had a chief executive officer since David Gill's departure in 2013, declined to comment on "speculation" when contacted by Reuters.
However, Arnold is set to take up his new role in the new year after United report the change to the New York Stock Exchange, where they are listed and their shares are traded, this week.
The appointment would mark the second major organisational change in as many months for the club, after they fired manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last month following a catastrophic slump in form this season.
Ralf Rangnick has taken over on an interim basis until the end of the season, before moving into a consultancy role at United.
An accountant by training and former executive at Nasdaq-listed tech firm InterVoice, Arnold was previously the club's commercial director from 2007 until 2013.
His appointment will be accompanied by a number of changes to the way the club are run, although it is not expected to result in a formal restructuring, Sky reported, citing sources.
Woodward, who has been executive vice-chairman since 2012, is expected to remain at United in a consultancy role for a number of months.
While credited with the club's commercial success in striking global sponsorship deals, United fans have not forgiven Woodward for his role in the failed breakaway European Super League (ESL).
He has also drawn plenty of criticism in the past for several bungled transfer deals.
In April, the club said Woodward, who tendered his resignation in the same month, would step down at the end of the year in the wake of the ESL crisis, which resulted in widespread protests by the United faithful before the project was aborted.
REUTERS