26 Nov 2008Gazidis appointed as new Arsenal chief executive

Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

Arsenal have ended their long search for a new chief executive today (November 26th) after confirming the appointment of Major League Soccer (MLS) deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis.

The South Africa-born Oxford graduate, 44, will be responsible for overseeing a number of areas which were covered by former vice-chairman David Dein before his departure 18 months ago.

These will include player contracts and negotiations for transfers, while he will also be charged with completing the club's Highbury Square development project, which has been affected by the credit crunch.

Gazidis said: "I have been privileged in my 14 years with MLS to have worked with and for some of the best sports executives and owners in the world, whose vision, commitment and expertise have taken the league from strength to strength and provided a solid platform for future growth.

"I am delighted to be offered the opportunity to bring that experience to bear at Arsenal - a club that is superbly positioned for success in the modern era."

The Gunners are undergoing considerable boardroom overhaul by their standards, with billionaire Stan Kroenke recently joining as a director, despite Dein's departure being caused by his support of a proposed takeover by the American.

Managing director Keith Edelman - a key figure in the move to the Emirates stadium - also left under something of a cloud in May after eight years at the club.

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood described Gazidis' credentials for his new role, which will start in January, as "first-class".

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