Premier League Appoints New Chairman
The Premier League has announced Anthony Fry as its new chairman, taking effect from 1st June, after the chairman of Dairy Crest was unanimously endorsed.
Fry will take up the position ahead of the Premier League’s Annual General Meeting, with the appointment following a comprehensive recruitment process undertaken by a Nominations Committee chaired by Bruce Buck (Chelsea) along with Peter Coates (Stoke City), David Gill (Manchester United) and John Williams (formerly Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City).
Fry has held numerous chairmanships and board positions across a range of business, public, charitable and academic bodies – and is currently chairman of the Finance Committee of the BBC Trust, a position from which he will be stepping down.
The 57-year-old replaces long-standing chair Sir Dave Richards, who was appointed in 1999, overseeing a period that has seen the league become the richest in world football.
Fry, a keen football fan, said: ‘I have been privileged to work in some exceptional organisations across a range of interesting and diverse areas with some extremely talented people. The opportunity to become Chairman of the Premier League is one that appealed hugely to me for obvious reasons.’
‘I have a deep-seated and long-held passion for sport and believe the skills and attributes I have developed throughout all aspects of my career will serve both the Premier League clubs and the Executive extremely well.’
‘The League is one of the country’s great success stories of recent times having overseen a period of rising playing standards, substantial investment in infrastructure and development, significant growth in attendances and viewing figures as well as the marked commercial success that has benefitted the English game as a whole.’
Bruce Buck added: ‘First I would like to thank my fellow members of the Nominations Committee and Odgers Berndston for their diligent and attentive work during this process. There were a number of outstanding candidates, any of whom would have made a fine Premier League Chairman, but in Anthony Fry we have appointed an individual with the correct blend of experience, skills, attitude and demeanour to represent the best interests of the Premier League.’
‘Anthony’s CV speaks for itself, but we were particularly impressed by his aptitude for and understanding of the role, as well as believing his style to be particularly well-suited to developing effective working relationships with both the member clubs and the Executive of the Premier League.’
‘I would also like to take this opportunity to place on record, on behalf of the clubs, our sincere thanks to Sir Dave Richards for his years of service to the Premier League.’
