Sunderland backroom shake-up, David Bruce set to depart this summer | OneFootball

Sunderland are braced for a major off-field restructure this summer.

Sunderland Echo understands Chief Business Officer David Bruce is set to leave. Initially appointed as Chief Brand and Commercial Officer on arrival in July 2023, he was promoted to Chief Business Officer a year later.

Bruce helped deliver key changes, including the switch to hummel as kit partner and outsourcing retail to Fanatics. His work, including on the 'Til The End campaign, drew praise from supporters, though the club are understood to be moving in a different direction to grow commercial revenues.

A new CEO is expected to be appointed this summer, tasked with driving revenues to strengthen the club's Premier League position.

Off the pitch, change has been ongoing. Mike Papadimitriou became Chief Financial Officer last September, and Tom Burwell recently joined the board as a non-executive director. Both have close links to Bia Sports Group, through which Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori manage their sporting investments.

Burwell will serve as interim CEO until the permanent appointment. The club are also recruiting a Chief Revenue Officer after Ashley Peden left his role as Chief Commercial Officer in January. Scott McCubbin, who also works for Bia Sports Group, is covering the revenue brief on an interim basis.

Source: Sunderland Echo