Ed Woodward

Ed Woodward
Born Edward Gareth Woodward
(1971-11-09) 9 November 1971[1]
Chelmsford, Essex, England
Nationality English
Alma mater University of Bristol
Occupation Accountant
Employer
Title Executive vice-chairman
Spouse(s) Isabelle Nicole Caprano (m. 2001)[1]

Edward Gareth Woodward (born 9 November 1971) is an English former accountant and investment banker, and is the current executive vice-chairman of Manchester United F.C. In his current role, Woodward serves as the chief executive overseeing the operations of the club.[2][3]

Education

Woodward attended Brentwood School in Brentwood, Essex from 1983 to 1989.[1][4] He went on to study Physics at the University of Bristol graduating in 1993. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996.[2]

Career

Woodward began working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the accounting and tax advisory department in 1993, before joining J.P. Morgan & Co. as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department in 1999.[1]

In 2005, Woodward advised Malcolm Glazer and the Glazer family during its successful takeover of Manchester United. The Glazer family then recruited Woodward to join the club in a "financial planning" role.

In 2007, Woodward was given charge of the commercial and media operations of Manchester United. It was in this role that Woodward is credited for United's success in tying up lucrative sponsorship deals with companies around the world. In 2005, the club's commercial revenue was £48.7 million. In 2012, it stood at £117.6 million.[5][6]

Woodward was appointed to the board of directors and named executive vice-chairman of Manchester United in 2012. After the retirement of CEO David Gill the following year, Woodward was promoted to the top operational role at Old Trafford in a restructuring of the club's boardroom. Woodward was succeeded by Richard Arnold as the club's commercial management director.[7]

In August 2016, Woodward secured the transfer of Paul Pogba for a record breaking fee of €105 million, making him the most expensive footballer of all time.[8]

Criticism

Woodward's first transfer window in 2013, in which Manchester United completed the signing of Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton but failed to acquire other transfer targets, was described as being "disastrous" by The Daily Telegraph.[9] After the window closed, some fans demanded the sacking of Woodward.[10]

In July 2014, the newly appointed Manchester United coach, Louis van Gaal complained that Manchester United's excessive commercial activities could hamper the team's success and hoped there could be some balance to that.[11]

After the 2018 summer transfer window, it was speculated in the media that Woodward had vetoed the transfer targets given to him by manager José Mourinho at the end of the 2017–18 season. This created tension in the club, with Mourinho and the United fans alike criticising Woodward for the lack of improvement in the squad.[12] Fans complained that the club was focused more on brand development than footballing success. This was emphasised with the announcement of a brand deal with Chivas Regal whisky on 8 August, a day before the transfer window shut, which was announced with a video clip that the club usually reserved for the announcement of new players.[13]

Personal life

Woodward supported non-league Chelmsford City in his youth.[14] His father was a fan of both Derby County and Manchester United, and was said to have been present for Manchester United's victory in the 1968 European Cup Final at the old Wembley Stadium.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "WOODWARD, Edward Gareth". Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press. (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 ManUtd.com profile
  3. ↑ Interview with journalist Andy Mitten of United We Stand Manchester United fanzine
  4. ↑ "Famous OBs". Brentwood School. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Manchester United owner's move to promote Ed Woodward finalises the 'Glazerfication' of Old Trafford". The Daily Telegraph. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Man Utd's Ed Woodward: the man behind the Glazer financial plan". BBC Sport. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ed Woodward assumes responsibilities at MU". ManUtd.com. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Paul Pogba joins Manchester United". juventus.com. Juventus. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Humiliation for Manchester United as new chief executive Ed Woodward learns the hard way". The Daily Telegraph. 3 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Manchester United fans call for Ed Woodward to be sacked". Daily Star. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Louis van Gaal fears Manchester United are too big for their own good". The Guardian. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Taylor, Daniel (10 August 2018). "Manchester United veto José Mourinho's transfer wishlist". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Jones, Joshua (8 August 2018). "United on the rocks". The Sun. News Group Newspapers. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Man Utd's Woodward carries burden of finding Moyes' successor". Financial Times. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
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