Perhaps the ultimate proof of the English Premier League’s effect in the U.S. is that one quarter of its clubs are owned by Americans: Arsenal (Stan Kroenke), Aston Villa (Randy Lerner), Liverpool (John Henry and Tom Werner), Manchester United (Malcolm Glazer) and Sunderland (Ellis Short).
In addition, three Americans have taken senior executive positions with EPL clubs.
Tom Fox
Chief commercial officer, Arsenal
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| Photo by: Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal |
After a 20-year career in the U.S., with stints at Nike, Quaker Oats, Gatorade, the NBA and Wasserman Media Group, Fox was recruited by Arsenal and joined the club in 2009. He quickly became an EPL convert. “Once I got here and witnessed the games, and experienced the feeling in the stands at Emirates Stadium,” said the Chicago native, “I realized there isn’t a sporting event in the world I’d rather be at.” Fox has been assigned to sell the Arsenal brand outside the U.K., especially in the U.S., India and China.
Tom Glick
Chief commercial and operating officer, Manchester City
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| Photo by: Getty Images |
After 4 1/2 years as CEO of Derby County, in England’s second division, Glick will join Manchester City in mid-August. The Colorado Springs native caught the attention of Manchester City ownership when he doubled the revenue at Derby, despite the club being relegated from the EPL in 2008. Under Glick, Derby’s attendance was higher than more than half of the clubs in the EPL. Glick got his start in minor league baseball before becoming vice president of marketing and team operations at the NBA and chief marketing officer with the New Jersey Nets.
Billy Hogan
Commercial director, Liverpool
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| Photo by: Mike Ivins |
The former managing director of Fenway Sports Management was hired in May to oversee the business operations and strategic growth of the company’s EPL soccer club. Hogan started with Fenway in 2004, working in sponsorship sales, marketing and digital media for the Boston Red Sox. He built a client roster that included Boston College athletics, the Deutsche Bank Championship on the PGA Tour, and LeBron James/LRMR. The Cleveland-born Hogan helped secure Liverpool’s kit deal with Warrior for $38.4 million a year and coordinated the club’s current summer tour of North America.
