EPL club Arsenal Chief Commercial Officer TOM FOX is "understood to be on the verge" of being named Aston Villa CEO, according to John Percy of the London TELEGRAPH. Fox "is highly regarded at Arsenal, with the American having helped to set up" the $283M (all figures U.S.) kit deal with Puma last year. He "has been approached" by Villa Owner RANDY LERNER "following the surprise departure of PAUL FAULKNER in July." Lerner "is keen to complete the appointment within the next few days as he wants a proper structure in place to carry out day-to-day operations while he is back" in the U.S. (London TELEGRAPH, 8/20). In London, John Wragg writes landing Fox would be "regarded as such a coupe by Lerner it could lead him to reconsidering his decision to sell-up at Villa." Fox "will have full control of the direction this new-look Villa will take." In the five years Fox has been with Arsenal, it has "clinched an Emirates shirt sponsorship that was the second biggest in the game's history and a huge kit deal with Puma" (London EXPRESS, 8/20). Fox had previous stints in the U.S. with the NBA, Nike, Gatorade and Wasserman Media Group. He also was named to SportsBusiness Journal's "Forty Under 40" class in '02 and '01 (THE DAILY).
