Chelsea, the English Premier League soccer giants, have today (July 18) announced the appointment of experienced industry executive Tom Glick to lead their commercial operations.

The American will serve as the club’s president of business and assume responsibility for day-to-day operations, including managing the team’s global commercial strategy, driving revenue growth, and enhancing fan engagement.

Glick was hired by Chelsea’s new ownership group led by fellow countryman Todd Boehly, whose consortium completed a £4.25-billion (then $5.3-billion) acquisition of the club in May.

The takeover led to an overhaul of Chelsea’s senior leadership team with chairman Bruce Buck, chief executive Guy Laurence, and director Marina Granovskaia all departing of late.

Glick replaces Granovskaia, as well as replacing Lawrence in taking charge of the club's commercial strategy. 

Chelsea recently announced that Boehly will serve as chairman as well as a co-controlling owner alongside Behdad Eghbali and José E. Felician, the co-founders and managing partners of private equity group Clearlake Capital that also fronted the consortium.

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Glick has spent 30 years in sports management in soccer, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, and American football.

His most recent role was as team president of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. He also oversaw the creation of US Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise Charlotte Football Club as part of his role with Tepper Sports and Entertainment which owns both teams.

Glick was previously the chief commercial officer of City Football Group (CFG), the collective of international soccer clubs led by Premier League outfit Manchester City.

he joined CFG in 2012, serving as both chief commercial and marketing officer for Manchester City, as well as managing director of the City Football Marketing unit. In February 2015, Glick moved to New York to help launch New York City FC in MLS in the role of president, before returning to the UK 15 months later as CCO of CFG.

Prior to joining Manchester City, Glick spent four years as president and chief executive of Derby County, of English soccer's second-tier Championship, which followed four years in basketball, initially as vice president, marketing and team business development at the NBA and then as chief marketing officer for the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets.

The American has also worked in minor league baseball and ice hockey.

In English soccer, he served on the Football League board, the FA Council, and the Professional Game Board.

Boehly said: “Tom’s successful track record as a leader and innovator at several respected and winning sport organisations made him the obvious choice for this position.

“His skills and experience will be vital as we improve Chelsea FC’s key infrastructure, expand the club’s products and reputation, and find exciting new ways for our loyal supporters to engage with their favourite players.”

Glick added: “Chelsea is an iconic sports institution, known and admired all over the world. I have been very impressed with the vision and mission of Todd Boehly and Clearlake.

“They have the Chelsea community at the heart of everything they do. We have a huge opportunity here to enhance performance across the board, on behalf of everyone we serve.”