Chelsea CEO Ron Gourlay is to leave the club to "pursue new business challenges" after a decade at Stamford Bridge, five of them in the "top job," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. Gourlay has kept a "relatively low profile since replacing Peter Kenyon during a period that has been Chelsea's most successful on the pitch but also tumultuous off it." Despite announcing an annual loss of £49.4M in December last year, Gourlay "steered a course that enabled the club to comply" with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules and "ensured stability behind the scenes despite several managerial changes" (GUARDIAN, 10/22). The PA's Matt McGeehan reported Gourlay, who previously worked with ManU and sportswear
manufacturer Umbro, "departs on amicable terms to seek new opportunities." An "exact timescale was not given for Gourlay's departure, with the
prospect he could help smooth the transition to any new chief executive
appointed" (PA, 10/22). In London, Mark Cue reported Marina Granovskaia, Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich's former PA, will "assume Gourlay's
responsbilities" along with Chair Bruce Buck, "pending additional
appointments" (LONDON TIMES, 10/22).
GRANOVSKAIA'S ASCENT: In London, Matt Law reported Granovskaia's "incredible ascent to becoming the most powerful woman in
world football is set to continue." Gourlay is "said to be giving up his role," leaving the way "clear for Granovskaia to take even more responsibility at
Stamford Bridge." Sources close to Chelsea are "now convinced Granovskaia will be the club's new
chief executive, even if she does not take on the title." Her influence has been "growing for some time and she played a bigger
part in many of Chelsea's transfers over the past few years than Gourlay."
She was the "driving force" behind buying and selling Fernando Torres, and
finalized this summer's £32M purchase of forward Diego Costa (TELEGRAPH, 10/22).
