Ron Gourlay Explained

Office:CEO of West Bromwich Albion Football Club
Term Start:2022
Predecessor:Xu Ke
Office2:CEO of Reading Football Club
Term Start2:2017
Term End2:2018
Predecessor2:Nigel Howe
Successor2:Nigel Howe
Office3:CEO of Chelsea Football Club
Term Start3:2009
Term End3:2014
Predecessor3:Peter Kenyon
Successor3:Marina Granovskaia
Birth Place:Dundee Scotland
Nationality:British
Occupation:Businessman

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ron Gourlay. Chelsea F.C.. 24 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140624100154/http://www.chelseafc.com/chelsea-article/article/2932048. 24 June 2014.
  2. News: Ron Gourlay. Financial Times. 24 May 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140524183634/https://www.ft-live.com/ft-events/ft-ifa-business-of-football-summit/speakers/ron-gourlay/1792. 24 May 2014.
  3. https://archive.today/20120718125241/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=677023&sec=england&cc=5901 Chelsea announce Gourlay as Kenyon's replacement
  4. http://origin-www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1799961,00.html News in Brief – Fri 18th Sept
  5. http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/1799881 Gourlay is new Chief Executive
  6. Web site: Ron Gourlay appointed as Royals CEO . Reading F.C. . 19 November 2018 . 10 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Club statement Gourlay steps down as CEO . Reading F.C. . 19 November 2018 . 19 November 2018.
  8. Web site: Sir John Madeski on the decline in Reading FC's results, Ron Gourlay's exit and the club's Chinese owners. Football.London. Low. Jonathan. 4 December 2018. 2 February 2022.
  9. Web site: Ron Gourlay appointed Albion CEO. West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 2 February 2022.
  10. Web site: Ron Gourlay appointed Al-Ahli FC CEO. Al-Ahli FC. 22 January 2024.