Reds Appoint New Commercial Director

[rushscored4]

Ian's a year older than me and went to Litherland High School from 1979 where he was also known as 'Airfy'. He joined the Navy after leaving school and now lives in North Yorkshire.

He's a good mate of a client of ours who used to be the Marketing Director for the Premier League and negotiated the previous TV deals with Sky as well as working closely with Ian out in the Far East.

This is a fantastic appointment for us as not only has Ian got extensive marketing experience (especially in Asia), he has run a football club himself (Huddersfield) and - most importantly - he is a scouser and a big Liverpool fan.

[Red_Polo]

Certainly sounds as though he ticks all the right boxes.

[Tinkerbitch]

Ian's a year older than me and went to Litherland High School from 1979 where he was also known as 'Airfy'. He joined the Navy after leaving school and now lives in North Yorkshire.

He's a good mate of a client of ours who used to be the Marketing Director for the Premier League and negotiated the previous TV deals with Sky as well as working closely with Ian out in the Far East.

This is a fantastic appointment for us as not only has Ian got extensive marketing experience (especially in Asia), he has run a football club himself (Huddersfield) and - most importantly - he is a scouser and a big Liverpool fan.

Marvellous, can I give you my ticket request list now?

[Nicey]

So after an extensive global search we got ere the local lad.odd

Speaking as somebody involved in Executive Search, I would say this guy is a dream canddate, A commerical director with extensive sports branding experience, sports tv experience, a guy who has extensive Asian market experience, has been chairman of a Football club and is a Life long Red... Hats off to the search firm the banged it out of the park with this one, probally laughin all the way to the bank with the ammount of work G&T will be giving them in the future

[AFII]

THIS IS DREAM JOB FOR ME
Jul 18 2007 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL’S new commercial director Ian Ayre today spoke of the challenges ahead as he prepared to return from Asia for a ‘dream job’ at his hometown club next month.

Kirkdale born Ayre, 44, a lifelong Reds fan who left Litherland High School at 16 to join the Navy, was yesterday announced as Anfield’s newest summer signing.

He will be charged with spearheading the club’s sponsorship programme, developing merchandising and revenues and growing Liverpool’s worldwide brand into a new era of opportunity.

Ayre, a former chairman and chief executive of Huddersfield Town, spent many years in Asia, where he ran a company called PACE which led the way in manufacturing digital set top boxes for Sky and other suppliers.

He was chosen from a dozen high calibre candidates identified for the Reds by a top head-hunting agency.

Said Ayre from his current base in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: “I knew there was definite interest from Liverpool and the club is very dear to my heart.

“But it was only when I met Tom Hicks and George Gillett that I really understood the scale of the opportunity. I met George in London and Tom in New York and they are great guys.

“I was overwhelmed by how easy they were to deal with. Usually you might find people at that level a little aloof but that was not the case at all with them.”

Ayre began following Liverpool as a nine year old boy and counts among his heroes Kevin Keegan, John Toshack, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish.

And he revealed he has already achieved one of his lifelong goals at Anfield – scoring in a half-time penalty shoot out during Chris Lawler’s testimonial in the mid seventies.

Said Ayre, a father of four: “I entered a competition run by Radio City to take a penalty against the Everton keeper George Wood. I won it and got to take a spot-kick in front of the Kop. Fortunately I scored it too! I’ve been to most of the big finals and was there in Athens in May for the European Cup final.

“There’s no doubt that after all the success of the seventies and eighties, Liverpool was easily the biggest footballing brand in the world.

“Manchester United may have made progress in that area but it is clear to me having travelled all around the world and spent so many years in Asia that people remember that time.

“Liverpool were undoubtedly the biggest name and attraction in football and I don’t see any reason why that can’t be got back.

“Everyone I have spoken to associates the club with great passion and atmosphere – all the good things you want to see – and that strikes a chord in all parts of the world among all cultures.”

Added Ayre, who will report to Reds chief executive Rick Parry when he takes up the post on August 16: “ I watched every single Liverpool game live out here last season.

“The football is on everywhere in Asia – people gather to watch it at night in bars, restaurants and other places everywhere.

“That speaks volumes for the size of the appetite and we have got a system, a process and a partnership in place to serve that.”

CLICKY - The Echo

[AFII]

Header hed hed header ehader hed he dheader
Jul 18 2007 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL Co chairman Tom Hicks today hailed the ‘heaven sent’ appointment of the club’s new Commercial Director Ian Ayre.

Hicks said Litherland born and bred Ayre - a Liverpool fan who once scored a half-time prize penalty in front of the Kop in 1975 during Chris Lawler’s testimonial – stood out after a determined international search for the right man to raidly develop the Reds’ huge commercial and marketing potential around the world.

Ayre, 44, headhunted by Liverpool in a painstaking global search for expertise following the Americans' takeover in February, will assume a high profile and important new board role at Anfield, reporting to Reds' chief executive Rick Parry.

Ayre joined the Royal Navy after leaving Litherland High School at 16 with few academic qualifications.

But he went on to build a major business and marketing career in Asia, developing digital TV set top boxes for Sky and other satellite companies around the world.

He also ran Huddersfield Town for three years as chairman and chief executive, negotiating collective TV bargaining rights for the vast majority of football league clubs too.

Hicks, speaking from his offices in Dallas, said: "This is a real 'local boy comes home' story and one of our key summer signings too.

“We conducted a global search which turned up over a dozen very high quality candidates.

“George and I both interviewed – together and separately - probably half a dozen apiece.

“And it was real clear to us that Ian was the perfect choice, both from his background in sponsorship and new media and also in what we plan to do in Asia.

“But most importantly Ian was the right choice because of his passion for the Liverpool team, the community and the city.

“When you roll it all up together he’s going to be a very important executive for many years to come.

Added Hicks: “Ian is going to have to create a whole new commercial organisation that will encompass ticketing, sponsorship, and which encompasses our traditional media and new media, our press relations and customer services.

“These are areas where we are going to have focus.

“I think it will be great for our fans and we have three years to get it right before we are into our new stadium.

He added: “I think Ian’s enthusiasm impressed us – he’s a real entrepreneur and he’s had success.

“He didn’t go to a fancy school – he’s grown up in Liverpool and went to a neighbourhood academy.

“He went into the navy when he left school and went into a small club to join the football fraternity.

“He’s been doing sponsorship deals all over Asia and he has touched all the right things, ticked all the right boxes.

“Ian has proven to be a good manager, very thorough – and on top of everything else he has true empathy for the club.

“I think our fans will love him.

“We are taking one step at a time. I feel very good about where we are, having signed this summer our key players. Now we have added to our commercial strength.

“Ian’s challenge is to do for the Liverpool brand on a global basis what we have been achieving for years on the pitch.”

Added Reds manager Rafael Benitez from Switzerland: “It’s important for the club to have good people in different areas trying to make sure we keep improving.

“We can see from our trip here and when we go to Asia how important the Liverpool name is around the world.

“Not only is it important for our supporters to see the team but also for us to see how the club can benefit from our huge popularity.”

CLICKY - The Echo

Don't ask me what the header is all about.

[homer1]

Header hed hed header ehader hed he dheader
Jul 18 2007 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL Co chairman Tom Hicks today hailed the ‘heaven sent’ appointment of the club’s new Commercial Director Ian Ayre.

Hicks said Litherland born and bred Ayre - a Liverpool fan who once scored a half-time prize penalty in front of the Kop in 1975 during Chris Lawler’s testimonial – stood out after a determined international search for the right man to raidly develop the Reds’ huge commercial and marketing potential around the world.

Ayre, 44, headhunted by Liverpool in a painstaking global search for expertise following the Americans' takeover in February, will assume a high profile and important new board role at Anfield, reporting to Reds' chief executive Rick Parry.

Ayre joined the Royal Navy after leaving Litherland High School at 16 with few academic qualifications.

But he went on to build a major business and marketing career in Asia, developing digital TV set top boxes for Sky and other satellite companies around the world.

He also ran Huddersfield Town for three years as chairman and chief executive, negotiating collective TV bargaining rights for the vast majority of football league clubs too.

Hicks, speaking from his offices in Dallas, said: "This is a real 'local boy comes home' story and one of our key summer signings too.

“We conducted a global search which turned up over a dozen very high quality candidates.

“George and I both interviewed – together and separately - probably half a dozen apiece.

“And it was real clear to us that Ian was the perfect choice, both from his background in sponsorship and new media and also in what we plan to do in Asia.

“But most importantly Ian was the right choice because of his passion for the Liverpool team, the community and the city.

“When you roll it all up together he’s going to be a very important executive for many years to come.

Added Hicks: “Ian is going to have to create a whole new commercial organisation that will encompass ticketing, sponsorship, and which encompasses our traditional media and new media, our press relations and customer services.

“These are areas where we are going to have focus.

“I think it will be great for our fans and we have three years to get it right before we are into our new stadium.

He added: “I think Ian’s enthusiasm impressed us – he’s a real entrepreneur and he’s had success.

“He didn’t go to a fancy school – he’s grown up in Liverpool and went to a neighbourhood academy.

“He went into the navy when he left school and went into a small club to join the football fraternity.

“He’s been doing sponsorship deals all over Asia and he has touched all the right things, ticked all the right boxes.

“Ian has proven to be a good manager, very thorough – and on top of everything else he has true empathy for the club.

“I think our fans will love him.

“We are taking one step at a time. I feel very good about where we are, having signed this summer our key players. Now we have added to our commercial strength.

“Ian’s challenge is to do for the Liverpool brand on a global basis what we have been achieving for years on the pitch.”

Added Reds manager Rafael Benitez from Switzerland: “It’s important for the club to have good people in different areas trying to make sure we keep improving.

“We can see from our trip here and when we go to Asia how important the Liverpool name is around the world.

“Not only is it important for our supporters to see the team but also for us to see how the club can benefit from our huge popularity.”

CLICKY - The Echo

Don't ask me what the header is all about.

With this marketing / PR expansion, Doc Cotton may even be given a few extra words to add to his repertoire

[Shaggy]

Good to luck to him etc. Great to have a fan in such a role.

But my God, what a boring ******* he sounds. Boring boring boring. Boring job, boring man, boring day. I'm so bored.

[le2red]

“There’s no doubt that after all the success of the seventies and eighties, Liverpool was easily the biggest footballing brand in the world.

“Manchester United may have made progress in that area but it is clear to me having travelled all around the world and spent so many years in Asia that people remember that time.

“Liverpool were undoubtedly the biggest name and attraction in football and I don’t see any reason why that can’t be got back.

“Everyone I have spoken to associates the club with great passion and atmosphere – all the good things you want to see – and that strikes a chord in all parts of the world among all cultures.”


Sums up for me where we have f**ked up in the last 15 years. Not having a dedicated commercial dept whilst we sat back and watched Utd make the money to buy the top players has really set us back.

Now with the Americans and this guy coming in it looks like we can finally start to compete off the pitch as well.

[redblood]

Speaking as somebody involved in Executive Search, I would say this guy is a dream canddate, A commerical director with extensive sports branding experience, sports tv experience, a guy who has extensive Asian market experience, has been chairman of a Football club and is a Life long Red... Hats off to the search firm the banged it out of the park with this one, probally laughin all the way to the bank with the ammount of work G&T will be giving them in the future

Exactly mate we couldn't have asked for a better guy to take on this role.
He has everything and I mean everything we could've asked for, lets hope he delivers.
Another wonderful piece of business by Rick and G & T.
TV Station on the way, new marketing guy, supposedly fantastic new stadium with ability to increase capacity, fantastic set of new players.
Things look really good for us.

[Resu]

He says that it`s his dream job, setting up a new department in his favurite club. Sounds like a sweet gig, it`s not like he can do any worse than what`s been allready done.

[rushscored4]

He says that it`s his dream job, setting up a new department in his favurite club. Sounds like a sweet gig, it`s not like he can do any worse than what`s been allready done.

Don't be surprised if Ayres replaces Rick Parry in a couple of years time. With his experience of running a (smaller) football team and extensive contacts and marketing knowledge he would make an ideal Chief Executive...

[The Barber]

Don't be surprised if Ayres replaces Rick Parry in a couple of years time. With his experience of running a (smaller) football team and extensive contacts and marketing knowledge he would make an ideal Chief Executive...

You seem to to know him well.... maybe some insider info coming from you soon!!? ?

[rushscored4]

You seem to to know him well.... maybe some insider info coming from you soon!!? ?

I've never met him personally but I know someone who is a good mate of his and speaks very highly of him. Mind you, the same fella also likes Rick Parry...

[The Barber]

I've never met him personally but I know someone who is a good mate of his and speaks very highly of him. Mind you, the same fella also likes Rick Parry...

there goes any hope....