Chelsea FC appoints Glick as president of business

Chelsea Football Club has hired Tom Glick as senior executive to lead its commercial operations under new owners Clearlake Capital and American billionaire Todd Boehly.

Glick, formerly chief commercial officer of the parent group of Manchester City, has been named president of business to oversee Chelsea’s commercial strategy, revenue growth and improving engagement with fans, the club said on Monday.

He brings 30 years of sports and marketing experience to the English Premier League team, as Boehly and US investment firm Clearlake try to execute their plans for the club. Boehly spearheaded a consortium that acquired Chelsea in May for £2.5bn from sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the sanctions on Abramovich, presented a rare opportunity for Clearlake and Boehly, who co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and the LA Lakers basketball side, to acquire one of the world’s most successful football teams with a global fan base.

The appointment comes after confirmation that former director Marina Granovskaia, who played a key role in signing and selling players in the Abramovich era, would be leaving the club. Bruce Buck, the former Skadden lawyer who advised Abramovich on the acquisition of Chelsea in 2003, stepped down as chair at the end of June.

Chelsea highlighted Glick’s role as former president of business operations for the Carolina Panthers, a job he held until February, crediting him with overseeing improvements to the US National Football League side’s Bank of America stadium.

Behdad Eghbali and José Feliciano, who founded Clearlake, said Glick had the “experience and credentials to elevate our significant global standing”. They added that Glick could help strengthen the club through investments in squad additions, infrastructure, technology, the youth academy and the women’s team.

Boehly and Clearlake have earmarked an additional £1.75bn for investment at Chelsea, including plans to expand and modernise the 40,267-capacity Stamford Bridge home ground, which lags behind rivals such as Manchester United’s 74,140-seater Old Trafford.

Chelsea’s men’s team is touring the US ahead of the new Premier League season, which starts in August. Under Boehly and Clearlake, Chelsea has signed England striker Raheem Sterling from Premier League champions Manchester City, and defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Italian side Napoli, as the new ownership group fights to win trophies.

“We have a huge opportunity here to enhance performance across the board, on behalf of everyone we serve,” said Glick.