Lay Hoon
BornAugust 1964
Singapore
NationalitySingaporean
EducationNational University of Singapore
Known forPresident of the Spanish football club Valencia CF

Lay Hoon or Lay Hoon Chan (born 1964) is a Singaporean sports executive and financial adviser. She has twice been appointed the President of the Spanish football club Valencia CF.

Early life and career

Chan was born in August 1964.[1] She has a degree in accounting from the National University of Singapore,[2] and first worked in the UK as an auditor. Described as "Peter Lim's right hand man" and the "basic piece" of his business network,[3] she has served the billionaire in different capacities including as Financial Advisor to his business ventures, partner of the tycoon in the Meriton Holdings investment fund, Director at Rowsley , Executive Chairperson of RSP Holdings, and from 2014 as President of Valencia CF.

When Lim bought Valencia CF, she became the President of the club in December 2014.[4] In her first year, the club came fourth in their league but after that they were twelfth. The manager Nuno Espirito Santo went in 2015 and he was replaced[4] by Gary Neville for four months before he was sacked, with Chan citing a "language barrier".[5] Pako Ayestaran lasted six months then Cesare Prandelli was manager for three months until Salvador "Voro" Gonzalez took over. Chan left the club in June 2017.[4]

Valencia CF announced that she would be replaced by Anil Murthy.[6] In June 2022 Anil Murthy left after reportedly insulting the club's owner. Peter Lim's sons became club directors and Lay Hoon Chan returned as the club President.[4]

In February 2023 there were protests at a match where fans boycotted the first 20 minutes of the game to protest about Peter Lim's and Chan's leadership. The team was then 19th in the league.[7] In the same month, her mother died and this was commemorated by her staff and reported by the press.[8] The fans claimed that some players had not been paid but Chan was said to be living in a luxury house in Valencia.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Lay Hoon CHAN personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  2. ^ "Hoon Lay Chan, Rsp Holdings Inc: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  3. ^ Aspas, Sergio (12 March 2014). "Lay Hoon, la presidenta". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Kwek, Kimberly (2022-08-20). "Football: Chan Lay Hoon appointed Valencia president again, replaces Anil Murthy". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  5. ^ "Valencia's Asian boss admits cultural differences". www.besoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  6. ^ "Chan to step down as president of Valencia". ESPN. 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  7. ^ a b Barlow, Ruairidh (2023-02-21). "Valencia accused of failing to pay players while funding luxury house for chairwoman". Football España. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  8. ^ "Valencia CF coaching staff hold minute's silence in memory of Lay hoon Chan mother's passing - Valencia CF". www.valenciacf.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
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