Everton confirm Kinnear's appointment and Thelwell's departure
Everton have announced that the current Leeds United chief executive, Angus Kinnear, will join the Blues this summer to take over from interim CEO Colin Chong.
Kinnear was widely reported to be The Friedkin Group's favoured candidate to finally succeed the previous permanent incumbent, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, and the news has now been confirmed, as has the departure of Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, who will be leaving the Club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
According to a statement on the Club's official website, Thelwell will not be replaced directly; instead, a "wider sporting leadership team" will be assembled to oversee player recruitment and development.
Chong will remain at Everton and return to a full-time focus on the move to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, regeneration of the surrounding area and the future of Goodison Park, the last of which remains up in the air with the stalled legacy project that had been drawn up by the Farhad Moshiri administration.
In a further change, Chief Commercial and Communications Officer, Richard Kenyon, will be leaving Everton after 11 years fulfilling a variety of positions in the leadership, beginning with the consultation with leading fans groups over the redesign of the controversial 2013 club crest.
Everton's new Executive Chairman, Marc Watts, expressed his thanks to the outgoing personnel while also welcoming Kinnear to the new role he will start in June:
“Angus is one of England’s leading football executives and brings a wealth of relevant experience. His appointment means Everton will go into the summer with a first-class leader.
"A warm thank you to Colin for his leadership in steering the Club through some of the most challenging times in its history. I’m delighted and comforted that he will remain with us in a vitally important role as we use the new Everton Stadium as a launchpad for regeneration of the local area.
"Kevin has been integral in ensuring Premier League survival in this difficult period. By resolving PSR issues through significant player trading we believe we have an extraordinary squad that can be the foundation for future success. This future success will also be supported by our talented sporting department assembled by Kevin. We are pleased Kevin will remain with us in this interim period.
"I also want to thank Richard for his many years of service to Everton and for his personal support to us at The Friedkin Group in our first months at the Club. He leaves having played a key role in the delivery of our new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, from the consultation process, through to the premium and Season Ticket sales as we prepare to move into our new home. As he embarks on his next professional adventure, he does so knowing he will always be welcome here."
Kinnear's appointment will add vast experience in stadium moves to the Everton hierarchy. The 47-year-old Luton Town fan has held roles as commercial director at Arsenal during the Gunners' transition from their historic Highbury home to the Emirates Stadium at nearby Ashburton Grove and managing director at West Ham where he oversaw their move to the converted 2012 Olympic Stadium.
In 2018, he made the switch to Leeds, overseeing the Yorkshire club's triumphant return to the Premier League where they enjoyed three seasons before falling back into the Championship. They are, however, on course to return to the top flight, having narrowly missed out on immediate promotion last season.
Described by BBC Leeds correspondent Adam Pope as being "financially astute", Kinnear's time at Leeds has been characterised by his openness to engage with supporters, often through appearances on the Whites' leading fan podcast, The Square Ball and a regular column in the matchday programme, although he has stepped away from both in recent times as he has come in for greater scrutiny.
He is also an open opponent of independent regulation in football, a stance that might put him at odds with a good many Toffee fans still stung by Everton's treatment by the Premier League with regard to breaches of Profitability and Sustainability Rules when compared to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.
“Enforcing upon football a philosophy akin to Maoist collective agriculturalism – which students of 'The Great Leap Forward' will know culminated in the greatest famine in history – will not make the English game fairer, it will kill the competition which is its very lifeblood,” he was quoted as saying at the time.
“Redistribution of wealth will simply favour the lowest common denominator. Clubs who excel in recruitment, player development or commercial enterprise will be punished, while less capable ownership will be rewarded for incompetence.”
The biggest "own goal" during his time so far at Elland Road was a controversial revamp of Leeds's own club badge early in his tenure which, like at Everton, prompted hasty back-tracking and the abandonment of a design depicting the "Leeds Salute".
However, Kinnear earned kudos from fans for his handling of the outcry and his willingness to take the criticism of the process on board.
He will take up his new post on 1st June.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers07/03/2025 19:29:41
Good to see the progress, hopefully we will have some announcements on the new recruitment set up soon. There's a lot of work to do before the summer.
07/03/2025 19:32:15
I'm obviously keeping an open mind.
Kineears obviously experienced in ground moves but did it really go smoothly for arsenal & west ham ?
Both struggled during their settling in period.
I'm hopeful for a cohesive overall strategy, a long-term plan where we can all see the vision and have something to get behind, know we are going in the same direction to maximise the opportunity that the new stadium offers.
I'm not expecting overnight success, but if we have a statement saying we are doing xyz to achieve abc it gives fans confidence in what is trying to be achieved.
This CEO appointment could be the kick-start to fundamental changes needed across the business side of the club. That's before we even get to appointing the personnel needed in the sporting side with the DOF or new team in his place, players out of contract and the urgency we need to invest in the academy.
Oh the times the are a changing
UTFT
07/03/2025 20:35:13
Finally, changes that appear well-planned and executed. Thanks to all those departing, who appear to have done a good job in difficult circumstances.
07/03/2025 21:59:25
All positive news coming through, from all Fronts.
I have a good feeling, that we have cut loose from our morbid Moribund past.
Early days, I know, but, there is definately something in the air.
08/03/2025 06:56:15
Firstly, I think leaving Thelwell go is a major mistake. I would consider that Thelwell did a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances. It was like financing shopping in discount stores by selling off the house valuables. He certainly has left us in a good place. The evidence of his rewards were only realised when a good man manager David Moyes took over the team. I believe such a complete clean out is not what EFC need right now some continuity would be good for stability.
Secondly, the thought of David Moyes having so much control over recruitment makes me nervous. For me it takes his focus away from his main job and that is working with the players to mould them in to an effective footballing team. Yes he should have a say in recruitment but the day to day identifying players and developing footballing structures within the club is a separate job.
08/03/2025 09:26:37
Hyperbole comparing mass famine with the independence of a footballing operation sets off warning bells in my head, reminds me of a now deceased former football Chairman, Donald Trump affecionado maybe? We'll see
08/03/2025 14:36:39
Jamie #1
Aye, I'm willing to steak it'll be a good appointment.
08/03/2025 19:23:44
Kinnear does not have big high heels to fill. Is he related to Joe Kinnear?
He looks like a solid appointment to me.
10/03/2025 12:27:48
Classy message from Kevin Thelwell confirming his departure.
The figures he quotes (£140m spent across 6 transfer windows, £220m receipts) and the challenges he lists, put his tenure into perspective.
May not have liked everything he has done, but thanks Kevin for a pretty good job in trying circumstances.
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07/03/2025 19:17:50
I can pretty much get behind anyone named Angus.