Everton usher in ‘sporting leadership team’ era with Leeds CEO set to arrive
Everton has hired Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear to take over as CEO in June, signalling the end of the club's director of football structure. The Friedkin Group will replace Kevin Thelwell with a new sporting leadership team as the club prepares for its new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.
Everton Football Club confirmed on Monday that Angus Kinnear, the long‑time chief executive of Leeds United, will join the Toffees as chief executive officer on 1 June 2026. The appointment marks a decisive shift in the club's governance model, as the Friedkin Group moves away from the traditional director of football system that has been in place since 2022.
From director of football to a sporting leadership team
Kevin Thelwell, who has served as Everton's director of football since the summer of 2022, will depart when his contract expires at the end of the current season. Thelwell guided the club through a turbulent period that included two points deductions, severe financial constraints and the fallout from former owner Farhad Moshiri's mis‑management. In a statement, Thelwell said he was proud of the progress made under “the most challenging of circumstances” and felt the club was in a stronger position than when he arrived.
Everton’s owners, the Friedkin Group, have announced that the director of football role will be abolished. Instead, a broader "sporting leadership team" will be created, bringing together senior figures from the sporting department, the academy and commercial operations. Details of the new appointments will be released in the coming weeks, but the structure is intended to provide a more integrated decision‑making process, especially as the club prepares for its move to the new Bramley‑Moore Dock stadium.
Interim leadership and the search for stability
The club has been without a permanent chief executive since Denise Barrett‑Baxendale resigned amid fan protests in June 2023. Colin Chong, a former Everton board member, has acted as interim CEO, overseeing the stadium project, the regeneration of the surrounding docklands and the future of Goodison Park. The Friedkin Group’s search for a permanent chief executive concluded with Kinnear’s appointment, bringing a leader who has overseen Leeds’ rise from the Championship to the Premier League and who previously held senior roles at Arsenal and West Ham United.
Kinnear, 47, is known for his commercial acumen and his ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments. His experience will be crucial as Everton balances the financial pressures of the Premier League, the ambitious stadium development and the need to rebuild a competitive squad.
Commercial reshuffle and squad planning
Alongside the CEO change, Everton announced the departure of long‑serving chief commercial and communications officer Richard Kenyon. The club said the move is part of a broader refresh of its commercial strategy ahead of the new stadium’s opening.
On the football side, manager David Moyes confirmed that planning for the summer transfer window is already underway, led by the sporting department and Moyes himself. The new leadership structure is expected to give the manager greater input into recruitment, while still maintaining a clear hierarchy that avoids the siloed decision‑making that plagued the club in recent years.
Future role for club legend Séamus Coleman
Everton’s captain and club icon Séamus Coleman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, remains a central figure in the club’s future plans. Injuries have limited him to just four appearances this term, but Moyes emphasised that Coleman’s influence extends beyond the pitch. The manager suggested that Coleman could stay on in a mentorship role, possibly playing for the under‑21 side, assisting with coaching duties, or even leading the team out for the inaugural match at the new Bramley‑Moore Dock stadium.
“You don’t keep people just for the sake of keeping them, but if we had our way we would try and keep Séamus around definitely,” Moyes said. He added that the club would respect Coleman’s wishes and that any decision would be made after consulting the veteran player.
What lies ahead for Everton
Everton’s transition to a sporting leadership team coincides with several major milestones: the completion of the 52,000‑seat Bramley‑Moore Dock stadium, the regeneration of the surrounding Liverpool docklands, and the ongoing restructuring of the club’s finances. The Friedkin Group has pledged to invest in the squad while maintaining fiscal responsibility, a balance that will be tested in the coming transfer windows.
Fans can expect further announcements regarding the composition of the sporting leadership team, the commercial strategy for the new stadium era, and the final terms of Coleman’s contract. As the club moves toward its first season at a brand‑new home, the leadership changes aim to provide a stable foundation for on‑field success and off‑field growth.
Why it matters
The appointment of Angus Kinnear and the shift to a sporting leadership team signal a strategic overhaul that could reshape Everton's competitive and commercial future as it prepares for a new stadium.
Key points
- Angus Kinnear will become Everton CEO on 1 June 2026
- The director of football role is being abolished in favour of a broader sporting leadership team
- Kevin Thelwell will leave at the end of his contract after steering the club through financial turmoil
- Interim CEO Colin Chong will hand over the reins after a year‑long stint overseeing the stadium project
- Club legend Séamus Coleman’s future role is under discussion, with possible coaching or mentorship duties
Frequently asked questions
Who is the new chief executive of Everton?
Angus Kinnear, formerly chief executive of Leeds United, will take over as Everton's CEO on 1 June 2026.
What happens to the director of football position at Everton?
The director of football role will be discontinued; Kevin Thelwell will leave when his contract ends and the club will form a new sporting leadership team.
When will Everton move to its new stadium?
Everton is slated to open the Bramley‑Moore Dock stadium for the 2026‑27 season, pending completion of construction and surrounding area regeneration.
Will Séamus Coleman stay at Everton after his contract expires?
Manager David Moyes has indicated a desire to keep Coleman in some capacity, potentially as a mentor, coach for the under‑21s, or ceremonial captain for the first game at the new stadium, but a final decision will depend on the player’s wishes.
.jpg?w=1120&h=630)
