More changes behind the scenes at Everton

Everton’s new Chief Executive Officer Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale today released her vision for the ‘Everton Leadership team’ that will run the show from behind the scenes at the club.

This group’s main responsibility will be to aid the Board of Directors and the Director of Football Marcel Brands in accomplishing the Club’s goals, with most of the team based in the new Club head offices on the waterfront in the Royal Liver Building.

A couple of key figures in the structure have had their roles expanded, including the ‘Twitter-famous’ David Harrison, the bespectacled smiling figure who has appeared in transfer signing pictures next to just about every player the Blues have signed over the last few years, as well as another well-known name Richard Kenyon, who was the subject of some baseless accusations by Sam Allardyce after the club mistimed a survey while the fanbase was livid at Big Sam’s performances.

David Harrison will receive a promotion from his role as Club Secretary and Head of Football Operations, with the latter title being changed to Director of Football Operations. Harrison is well-respected in the footballing community and joined the Blues from Manchester United in 1995.

Richard Kenyon is another big name in footballing media, and will have the important role of Chief Executive of Everton in the Community added to his portfolio as he becomes the Director of Marketing, Communications and Community. EitC was formerly led by Denise Barrett-Oxendale, and is now in the capable hands of Kenyon who has been a Trustee of EitC since 2014.

Some other appointments announced included:

Grant Ingles rejoining Everton as the Finance Director, a role he had filled between 2013-17. Ingles is making the switch across Merseyside after performing the same role at Liverpool.

Alan McTavish, who has been with the club since 2015 is now the Commercial Director in recognition for his work that saw the Blues land SportPesa and Angry Birds as the shirt and sleeve sponsors resepctively.

The pair will report to the Board’s Sasha Ryazantsev who is Farhad Moshiri’s ‘finance guy’ and officially the club’s Chief Finance and Commercial Officer.

Peter Shaw is the new Director of Operations, having spent ten years with Liverpool including a stint as Assistant Executive Director (2008-14), as well as Chief Operating Officer at Tranmere Rovers (2015-17).

Joel Waldron, who was previously the Academy Manager since 2011 will now become the Club’s Academy Director, overseeing operations at USM Finch Farm.

Paul McNicholas is promoted to Director of Risk and Governance after previously being the Head of Risk and Governance.

Kim Healey is a Human Resources maven and will be The People’s Club’s People Director with her 14 years’ of experience that includes roles at Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.

Richard Battle has been promoted from his position as Head of Academy Performance to Head of Football Strategy, where he will work with Marcel Brands to impart his philosophy at all levels of the Club’s footballing activities.

There are still two roles yet to be filled with interviews underway. First is the key position of Stadium Development Director. With the Blues looking to move to the new Bramley-Moore Docks in time for the 2022-23 season, this position will have a large part to play in that development.

The second position is that of Head of Strategy, but there has been no additional information on the scope of that role.

Speaking about the reorganization, Barrett-Baxendale said:

“I am really pleased to be able to confirm what is an incredibly talented and ambitious team. The qualities of those people already present in the team are what we are looking for in the individual we will appoint to the remaining position.

“As a Club, it is imperative that we move forward and grow – and I firmly believe this team will give us the opportunity to do that. This is a very experienced, very committed and very able team - a group of people who will be working hard each and every day to make sure we deliver on our Club standard of ‘nothing but the best is good enough’.”

Here is the full list of Everton Leadership team positions:

Director of Football Operations – David Harrison

Director of Marketing, Communications and Community – Richard Kenyon

Finance Director – Grant Ingles (starts July)

Commercial Director – Alan McTavish

Director of Operations – Peter Shaw (starts June)

Academy Director – Joel Waldron

Risk and Governance Director – Paul McNicholas

People Director – Kim Healey

Stadium Development Director – TBA

Head of Football Strategy - Richard Battle

Head of Strategy - TBA