New Managing Director

[Exiled_red]

At least he's got better taste in ties than Parry

[cannotmakeit]

LIVERPOOL today appointed a new man to run the club following the resignation of long serving chief executive Rick Parry this summer.

Christian Purslow, a well-respected 45-year-old business expert and lifelong Liverpool supporter, has been appointed to the new post of managing director by American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The news comes just a day after Gillett sold his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team for a reported £333m.

Purslow is a Cambridge University and Harvard graduate and a fluent Spanish speaker whose family hail from Wirral. His father worked for Littlewoods in the 1960s.

He has already begun working closely with manager Rafa Benitez.

Purslow has been head-hunted for the newly created role of MD – though it is being stressed the search for a new long term chief executive officer at Anfield continues.

Once that appointment has been decided upon, the club say Purslow will continue as a Liverpool club director.
His role is therefore an interim one at a key period for the Reds as they plan for the new season.

In a statement issued today Liverpool said: "Christian Purslow will assume overall management of the club until the appointment of a new chief executive, and will then continue as a board director.

"As managing director, Purslow will represent the owners and oversee all financial and operational aspects of the club, working with Rafa Benitez on player transfers and with the club's group chief financial officer, Philip Nash and commercial director, Ian Ayre on club and commercial management.

Gillett said: "Tom and I felt that it was important to put a highly experienced and respected executive in place to run the club and support the senior team and the manager.

"There's a lot to get done over the summer to build on the great season we just had and Christian will be a valuable addition to the team."

Hicks added: "Christian has been a great supporter of the club for many years and he's already built up good relationships at Anfield.

"His strategic and commercial acumen will be a real asset and we're delighted that he has made a long term commitment to the club."

Purslow, a long time Anfield season ticket holder, is an executive board member of MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm which he co-founded.

He was previously a director of Morgan Grenfell Private Equity.

Prior to his private equity career Christian was head of media, cable and entertainment for Schroder Salomon Smith Barney in Europe and head of UK mergers and acquisitions for Credit Suisse First Boston.

Purslow has a modern Languages degree from Cambridge University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson is conducting the CEO recruitment process.


maybe he is just here to help sell the club

[Vermilion]

Didnt see yours mate. Obviously it's the way you tell them

Maybe. Or, More realistically, I think not separating the Purse & Low as you did, meant mine was a touch complicated for those that found your plagiarized version funny.

[Neil Young]

Funny, that in our present financial position we appoint someone called 'Purslow'.

How appropriate that LFC appoint an MD called Purse Low.

In case anyone wants to know, in Swedish it's "Handväska Låg."

[Vermilion]

In case anyone wants to know, in Swedish it's "Handväska Låg."

Hurrgudishgudu

[gerbin11]

Well not even one full day into the job and he's already sorted the Glen Johnson deal, certainly an improvement on Parry.

[Le Chef]

My CFO knows him - Said he is a very very competent guy. Doesn't suffer fools gladly and doesn't take any ****.

Very surprised from a career perspective that he went to Liverpool, as he could and can earn far more money elsewhere. Again he was very surprised he has agreed to work with the yanks.

[Guest]

My CFO knows him - Said he is a very very competent guy. Doesn't suffer fools gladly and doesn't take any ****.

Very surprised from a career perspective that he went to Liverpool, as he could and can earn far more money elsewhere. Again he was very surprised he has agreed to work with the yanks.

I'm pretty sure he's going to remain in function in some of his other jobs. Not sure that being a 'board director' is anything as being a 'full time' job.

[Red_Polo]

Maybe. Or, More realistically, I think not separating the Purse & Low as you did, meant mine was a touch complicated for those that found your plagiarized version funny.

Precisely what I thought

As for Purslow, anyone else thinking possible minority stake here?

[focusedonfootball]

This from the Telegraph. Seems Kenny's been working that old magic....


Purslow, whose background is in private equity, speaks fluent Spanish and has already struck a relationship with Benitez. He is understood to have played a role in the negotiations surrounding Fernando Torres's new contract.
A friend of club legend Kenny Dalglish, Purslow was recommended to owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett as a potential new board member and has the support of both of them. Crucially this should allow him to bridge the divide that occasionally appears before the American owners.
The new managing director is also said to have decent relations with senior staff at RBS including chief executive Stephen Hester, and club sources said the bank welcomed his appointment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/5600713/Liverpool-appoint-Christian-Purslow-as-their-new-managing-director.html

[kingfunk]

Is it possible that Purslow has bought a percentage of the club for around £80m or so?
And this is where we are getting the cash for players this summer??
I think this is very possible.

[Vermilion]

Precisely what I thought

As for Purslow, anyone else thinking possible minority stake here?

Yes. Considered this yesterday when i saw what he'd made and is worth, as has KF above, but would they be able to keep this quiet. If he hasn't, then i think it's possible further down the road.