Experienced sports media executive David Kogan has been selected by the UK Government to chair what is poised to become the first independent regulator for men’s professional football in England.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, confirmed the news on Friday, with Kogan now set to appear before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny.
Kogan has helped negotiate a succession of multi-billion pound TV rights deals on behalf of major sporting bodies, including the Premier League and the English Football League. He has also advised UEFA, the Scottish Premier League, Six Nations and the NFL. He is currently an advisor to the New York Times Group and CNN on their commercial, digital and AI strategies.
Nandy said: “David brings with him a wealth of expertise from the sport and media industries having worked across a number of high-profile governing bodies, competition organisers and major media corporations in a very impressive career. It makes him an outstanding candidate to be the chair of the independent football regulator.
“This will be a vital, public role to ensure sensible, light-touch regulation helps to strengthen financial sustainability and put fans back at the heart of the game.”
Kogan’s appointment is ultimately subject to the long-heralded Football Governance Bill being granted Royal Assent that will be subject to Parliamentary process. The bill, which is currently going through Parliament, will establish the Regulator and a new set of rules that aim to protect clubs and keep them at the heart of their communities, as well as empowering fans.
The Regulator will look to tackle rogue owners and directors, implement a club licensing regime, monitor club finances and improve fan engagement throughout the football pyramid. It will also have a backstop measure to mediate a fair financial distribution between leagues, should they be unable to come to an agreement.
League One club Leyton Orient has come under American ownership through a takeover led by David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of streaming service fuboTV, with the development of a new stadium one of the key plans for the future.
The deal, which has received the required clearance from football’s relevant governing bodies, sees new parent company GSG LOFC Limited take over Eagle Investments 2017 Limited, the club’s former parent company.
Gandler will own 78.55% of the newly-formed entity and, alongside him, Nigel Travis, Kent Teague, Richard Emmett, Matt Porter, Sulman Ahmed, Kevin Willer, Jason Baine and Jeffrey Devron will remain as minority shareholders. Travis will continue as Orient chairman.
The East London club has played at Brisbane Road since 1937, but hopes to build a new stadium in the Borough of Waltham Forest along with upgrading its training facilities. Upon completion of the new investment deal, Gandler has made an initial injection of funds into the club that will allow it to operate until at least June 2026.
Travis said: “David has a determination to continue driving us forward through considered and sensible decision making, and I am very excited about that. As well as continued on-pitch progression, we intend to improve our training facilities in the next few years, which will be so important in attracting the best possible talent to Leyton Orient.
“I believe that we have outgrown Brisbane Road and finding a site for a new stadium within the borough of Waltham Forest is something that we are already working on. Any new stadium will be designed to maximise the club’s revenue opportunities, which will in turn support our playing budget, and I can assure all of our supporters that its primary function will be as a football stadium for Leyton Orient.”
Burnley FC has appointed James Holroyd as its new CEO ahead of its return to the Premier League for the 2025-26 season.
Holroyd joins Burnley with the club having recently secured promotion from the Championship. He has spent the past 14 years with Manchester United, latterly as chief commercial development officer since February 2022. Prior to joining United, Holroyd also spent 14 years at adidas.
Holroyd will take up the role this summer, reporting to chairman Alan Pace, where he will lead Burnley’s off-pitch ambitions including brand, commercial, innovation, fan engagement, and global growth.
Everton’s new owners, Roundhouse Capital Holdings, has seen its make-up expanded through the additions of Christopher Sarofim and Jason Kidd.
Sarofim, chairman of the global investment manager Fayez Sarofim & Co, brings almost 40 years’ worth of experience in investment, fund management and philanthropy to Everton, which will further strengthen the club’s financial base. He will become a board observer at the club, which remains under the control of The Friedkin Group (TFG).
TFG completed its takeover of Everton in December, with Roundhouse Capital Holdings falling under its portfolio. Kidd is the head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and a 10-time NBA All-Star.
Food and drink service provider Aramark has promoted Daniel Clark to managing director of its UK division’s newly established sports and entertainment division.
Clark has worked as global account director for Aramark in Philadelphia since February 2022, having joined following an eight-year spell at Delaware North.
In his new role, Clark will lead the expansion of Aramark UK’s sports and entertainment sector, which now includes Merlin Entertainments, alongside new contracts with Everton and Sussex Cricket.
NHL franchise the Buffalo Sabres has hired Jake Vernon as chief commercial officer. In his role with the team, Vernon will oversee ticketing and sponsorship operations, as well as its business intelligence department. He will report to chief operating officer, Pete Guelli.
Vernon joins the Sabres after spending the last 12 seasons with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, most recently serving as chief sales officer. In Minnesota, he led all initiatives related to ticketing, membership service, premium sales, fan experience and group events, in addition to the team’s partnership with its concessions partner.
Muse Capital’s sports investment and advisory arm, Muse Sport, has been named an advisory partner to the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL), with Assia Grazioli-Venier appointed chair of what will be the first pro baseball competition for elite female players in the US.
Muse Sport will provide strategic oversight of the League’s partnership and financing plans, while Grazioli-Venier, a founding partner at Muse Capital, will lead the WPBL’s global search for a CEO.
Grazioli-Venier leads the Muse Sport portfolio, which includes NWSL team the Washington Spirit, Therabody, Just Women’s Sports, SailGP, and Sports Innovation Lab. Grazioli-Venier was also the first woman and youngest board member in the 120-year history of Juventus, where she helped launch the Italian Serie A club’s women’s team and a suite of Juventus-operated properties.
Do you have news of an appointment that we should know about? Get in touch by emailing [email protected] and we’ll include it in our next round-up.
