Leo Pearlman pays heartfelt tribute after David Bruce exit confirmed | OneFootball

David Bruce will leave his role as Sunderland’s Chief Business Officer this summer, with Leo Pearlman praising his impact following the announcement.

Pearlman said in a LinkedIn post that change is inevitable and necessary, and that Bruce has helped make the club a better place.

He highlighted Bruce’s return from Major League Soccer in July 2023, framing it as a choice driven by purpose over profile and a reconnection between club and city. The Fulwell 73 co-founder has served on the club’s board as a non-executive director since 2023.

Non-executive director Tom Burwell, CEO of Bia Sports Group which manages Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori’s sporting businesses, has been named interim CEO pending a permanent appointment this summer.

Bruce’s departure comes amid a wider behind-the-scenes restructure following promotion to the Premier League. Mike Papadimitriou became Chief Financial Officer in September last year. In January the club moved to appoint a new Chief Revenue Officer after Ashley Peden left as Chief Commercial Officer, with Scott McCubbin of Bia Sports Group covering on an interim basis.

Source: Sunderland Echo