Arsenal confirm new CEO & major board exit | OneFootball

Arsenal executive vice-chair Tim Lewis has left the club amid a boardroom revamp, with Richard Garlick becoming CEO and further appointments in the works.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

David Ornstein reported for The Athletic on Friday morning that Tim Lewis is leaving Arsenal in a shock boardroom revamp.

Lewis has advised Arsenal owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment since 2007, he became a director at the club in 2020, and he’s held his current position as executive vice-chair since 2023.

Ornstein adds that Richard Garlick is set to become Arsenal’s CEO, and Josh Kroenke will continue to play an increasingly prominent role at the club as well.

On top of that, two more KSE representatives, a long-term advisor, and Ben Winston will be added to the board. Winston is a film producer and director, as well as being an Arsenal season-ticket holder.

Arsenal have now confirmed that Garlick is the new CEO, that Winston has joined as a non-executive director, and that Lewis has left.

The club add that KSE’s Kelly Blaha and Otto Maly will also join the board as non-executive directors, as well as KSE advisor Dave Steiner.

Edu Gaspar, Stan Kroenke, Cecil Jee Thomas, Mikel Arteta, Josh Kroenke, and Tim Lewis pose for a photo (via Cecil_Jee on Instagram)

The changes are certainly unexpected, with Lewis having been a key player in Arsenal’s summer transfer window. Working alongside Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta, he played a significant role in deals like the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.

James McNicholas reports that whilst Lewis was articulate and widely respected at Arsenal, he was also not universally popular, and could be abrasive.

McNicholas speculates that Lewis’ “brusque manner” could have ultimately cost him.

“We would like to thank Tim for his continued dedication and commitment to Arsenal in a period of transformational change for the club,” Josh Kroenke said. “He has played a pivotal role and ensured we are in a great position to continue to deliver our strategy in our ambition to win major trophies.

“In keeping with our desire to always move forward, we will strengthen our Board with some exciting additions who will bring vast experience to the club across a wide range of professions.”

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

It’s always hard to say exactly how influential any one person has been behind the scenes at Arsenal. But Lewis’ appointment to the board in 2020 coincided with an upturn at the club, after a couple of years of floundering following Arsene Wenger’s departure.

It’s a big move to part ways with one of the driving forces behind those positive changes, and the pressure is now on KSE to prove that it was a good decision.