Ron Gourlay
Gourlay whilst CEO of Chelsea Football Club
CEO of West Bromwich Albion Football Club
Assumed office
2022
Preceded byXu Ke
CEO of Reading Football Club
In office
2017–2018
Preceded byNigel Howe
Succeeded byNigel Howe
CEO of Chelsea Football Club
In office
2009–2014
Preceded byPeter Kenyon
Succeeded byMarina Granovskaia
Personal details
BornDundee Scotland
NationalityBritish
OccupationBusinessman

Ron Gourlay is a British businessman and CEO of Al-Ahli as he was formerly CEO of Chelsea and Reading.

Football

Chelsea

Ron Gourlay worked at Chelsea since 2004,[1][2] having previously worked for Manchester United and Umbro. He was appointed the chief executive of Chelsea on 17 September 2009, following Peter Kenyon's decision to leave the club on 31 October 2009.[3]

He was quoted as saying: "It is a huge honour to be offered the chance to lead Chelsea".[4] "We have a fantastic team both on and off the field and those teams can move us on to even greater success in the future. To be responsible for that is a fantastic challenge and I will be giving it my total commitment, drive and energy" after being named as the successor.[5]

Reading

On 10 July 2017, Gourlay was appointed as CEO of Reading,[6] leaving his role with immediate effect on 19 November 2018.[7] Following his departure, former-Reading chairman John Madejski claimed that Gourlay did not understand the culture at Reading and that he had damaged links between the community and club during his sixteen months at the club.[8]

West Bromwich Albion

On 2 February 2022 following the departure of then head coach Valerien Ismael, Gourlay was appointed as CEO of West Bromwich Albion.[9]

Al-Ahli FC

On 22 January 2024 he is appointed CEO of the Saudi side.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Ron Gourlay". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Ron Gourlay". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. ^ Chelsea announce Gourlay as Kenyon's replacement ESPN soccernet, 17 September 2009
  4. ^ News in Brief – Fri 18th Sept FA Premier League, 18 September 2009
  5. ^ Gourlay is new Chief Executive Chelsea FC, 17 September 2009
  6. ^ "Ron Gourlay appointed as Royals CEO". Reading F.C. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Club statement Gourlay steps down as CEO". Reading F.C. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  8. ^ Low, Jonathan (4 December 2018). "Sir John Madeski on the decline in Reading FC's results, Ron Gourlay's exit and the club's Chinese owners". Football.London. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Ron Gourlay appointed Albion CEO". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 2 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Ron Gourlay appointed Al-Ahli FC CEO". Al-Ahli FC. 22 January 2024.
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