Vinai Venkatesham appointed Arsenal managing director

Vinai Venkatesham has been elevated to a co-leadership role at Arsenal Football club after being appointed as the managing director of the North London club.

Arsenal announced on Tuesday (18) that chief executive Ivan Gazidis will step down next month after nine years in charge. Venkatesham, who has been the club’s chief commercial officer since 2014, will run the club alongside Raul Sanllehi who has been appointed head of football.

Venkatesham, who will oversee all business operations, said: “From the day I joined Arsenal I have always considered it a privilege to serve this great football club, so it’s an honour to take up the position of managing director and lead the club alongside Raul.

“Together we will work tirelessly with the extraordinary staff we have at Arsenal to respect and enhance our unique history, heritage and values; with the overall objective to bring success to our millions of fans all around the world and make them proud of their club.”

Venkatesham has been at Arsenal since 2010, joining as head of global partnerships. He was instrumental in negotiating lucrative partnerships such as the club’s biggest ever sponsorship deal with Puma and the contract renewal with the Emirates stadium.

Prior to working at Arsenal, he served as commercial manager for the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee, where he helped land £2 billion in sponsorship, merchandising, hospitality and broadcast deals with brands including Adidas, BT, Cadbury, Channel 4 and Thomas Cook.

Arsenal are in the middle of a transition period after the departure of long-serving manager Arsene Wenger who left the club in the summer after 22 years and now Gazidis, who is leaving to takeover at Italian club AC Milan.