Manchester United released the following statement on Monday evening:
‘The Board of Manchester United PLC is delighted to announce the appointment of David Gill as its new chief executive with immediate effect, to replace Peter Kenyon who has resigned today. Mr Kenyon will now go on ‘garden leave’ in accordance with the terms of his contract.’
Manchester United PLC Chairman, Sir Roy Gardner, commented:
‘We would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to the success of Manchester United on and off the pitch in the last six years. David, as Managing Director, has also played a major role in that success, and we are delighted that his appointment will bring both experience and continuity to this position.’
Communications Department, 8 September 2003.
Peter Kenyon profile
Peter Kenyon, 49, is native of Manchester. He began his professional career in the finance field where he specialised in management accounting and built up his experience by gaining employment with some of England’s top textile companies.
From 1976-1979, he worked for Burton’s Retailing and, as the company began to shift its emphasis to off-shore and ready-to-wear clothing from tailor-made, he entered the company’s management program.
He joined Coutaulds, the largest Textile Company in England in 1979, where he was Divisional Executive in charge of two designs. Following a move to Reliance Hosiery, a vertical knitwear manufacturer, Kenyon subsequently assumed the role of Chief Executive of this company upon its acquisition by Corah PLC, a major supplier of Marks and Spencer PLC.
In 1986, Kenyon joined Umbro UK in Manchester as Operations Director, responsible for sourcing, manufacturing and distribution. In 1988 he was appointed Managing Director, during which time he fully reorganised the UK business as started to focus the Umbro brand around the single sport of Football. At that time, he was appointed to the Board of Umbro’s parent company, Humpreys Bros. Ltd, and also to the Board of its International Joint Venture.
1990 saw Kenyon becoming responsible for Umbro’s European activities whilst still running the Umbro UK business.
In 1992, he handled the sale of Umbro UK to Stone Manufacturing of Greenville, South Carolina, bringing the company under American ownership. Kenyon was then appointed Chief Executive of Umbro Europe and two years later, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Umbro International world-wide.
In May 1997, he joined Manchester United PLC as Deputy Chief Executive, a newly created position with prime responsibility on building the brand internationally.
On 1 August 2000, he became Chief Executive of Manchester United Football Club.
For further information contact:
Manchester United Communications Department
Tel: +44 161 868 8000