Adam Pearson
Encyclopedia
Adam Pearson is Head of Football Operations of Hull City
and owner of Hull F.C. rugby league club. He is the former chairman
of English association football club Derby County
.
, North Yorkshire
, Pearson left his position as Leeds United
's commercial director in 2001 to purchase Hull City
and take over as chairman. At the time, Leeds were one of the country's most ambitious, big-spending Premier League clubs, while Hull were in administration
and languishing at the bottom end of the Third Division
of the Football League
. But by the time Pearson left Hull in 2007, he had seen Hull promoted twice, moving up to the Championship
.
Pearson was also Head of the Stadium Management Company, which operates the KC Stadium
, the home of Hull City and rugby league
side Hull. But on 11 June 2007 at 12:00 midday, it was announced at a press conference broadcast live on BBC Radio Humberside
that Pearson had sold the club and the SMC to a consortium consisting of Paul Duffen
, Russell Bartlett
and Martin Walker
. It was confirmed that Paul Duffen would take over as Chairman, but Pearson would remain on the board of directors to provide continuity. However, on 31 July 2007 he resigned from the board, thus severing all ties with the club.
Pearson had been linked with a bid for Leeds, following the club being put up for sale. Though he did not bid, he indicated that he did want to own a football club again. In October 2007 he tabled a takeover
bid
worth more than £3 million for Huddersfield Town
, the club he had supported all his life, but it was rejected.
On 29 October 2007 Pearson was named as the executive chairman of Derby County
after buying the majority share holding from Peter Gadsby
. On 28 October 2009 Pearson resigned with "mutual consent" as chairman of Derby. On 2 November 2009 it was announced by Hull that Pearson would be returning as chairman with immediate effect.
Following Hull City's relegation from the Premier League in May 2010, amid widespread speculation regarding the financial viability of the club, there was once again restructing in the boardroom, with Adam Pearson stepping down from the role of Chairman to become Head of Football Operations, being succeeded as chairman by vice-chairman and club owner Russell Bartlett
.
It was announced on 22 July 2011 that Pearson had purchased the full shareholding of Hull F.C. rugby league club for an undisclosed price.
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and owner of Hull F.C. rugby league club. He is the former chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of English association football club Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Career
Born in HarrogateHarrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, Pearson left his position as Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
's commercial director in 2001 to purchase Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and take over as chairman. At the time, Leeds were one of the country's most ambitious, big-spending Premier League clubs, while Hull were in administration
Administration (insolvency)
As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – an alternative to liquidation – is often known as going...
and languishing at the bottom end of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. But by the time Pearson left Hull in 2007, he had seen Hull promoted twice, moving up to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Pearson was also Head of the Stadium Management Company, which operates the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
, the home of Hull City and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
side Hull. But on 11 June 2007 at 12:00 midday, it was announced at a press conference broadcast live on BBC Radio Humberside
BBC Radio Humberside
BBC Radio Humberside is a BBC Local Radio service covering the area of the former English county of Humberside, which was returned to North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Kingston upon Hull on 1 April 1996....
that Pearson had sold the club and the SMC to a consortium consisting of Paul Duffen
Paul Duffen
Paul Jeremy Duffen is the ex-chairman of Hull City A.F.C. and was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Media Group plc , where other board members included Sir David Frost and Steven Smith...
, Russell Bartlett
Russell Bartlett
Russell Bartlett is a businessman and property investor and the former chairman and majority shareholder of Hull City football club.He purchased Hull City from Adam Pearson in June 2007 as part of a consortium with Paul Duffen and Martin Walker. They had made unsuccessful attempts to take over...
and Martin Walker
Martin Walker
Martin Walker is a former Director of Hull City football club.He joined Hull City in June 2007 as part of a consortium with Paul Duffen and Russell Bartlett...
. It was confirmed that Paul Duffen would take over as Chairman, but Pearson would remain on the board of directors to provide continuity. However, on 31 July 2007 he resigned from the board, thus severing all ties with the club.
Pearson had been linked with a bid for Leeds, following the club being put up for sale. Though he did not bid, he indicated that he did want to own a football club again. In October 2007 he tabled a takeover
Takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
bid
Bid price
A bid price is the highest price that a buyer is willing to pay for a good. It is usually referred to simply as the "bid."In bid and ask, the bid price stands in contrast to the ask price or "offer", and the difference between the two is called the bid/ask spread.An unsolicited bid or purchase...
worth more than £3 million for Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, the club he had supported all his life, but it was rejected.
On 29 October 2007 Pearson was named as the executive chairman of Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
after buying the majority share holding from Peter Gadsby
Peter Gadsby
Peter Gadsby is a millionaire property developer and lifelong Derby County fan who led a consortium to buy out Derby County football club in 2006.- Derby County takeover :...
. On 28 October 2009 Pearson resigned with "mutual consent" as chairman of Derby. On 2 November 2009 it was announced by Hull that Pearson would be returning as chairman with immediate effect.
Following Hull City's relegation from the Premier League in May 2010, amid widespread speculation regarding the financial viability of the club, there was once again restructing in the boardroom, with Adam Pearson stepping down from the role of Chairman to become Head of Football Operations, being succeeded as chairman by vice-chairman and club owner Russell Bartlett
Russell Bartlett
Russell Bartlett is a businessman and property investor and the former chairman and majority shareholder of Hull City football club.He purchased Hull City from Adam Pearson in June 2007 as part of a consortium with Paul Duffen and Martin Walker. They had made unsuccessful attempts to take over...
.
It was announced on 22 July 2011 that Pearson had purchased the full shareholding of Hull F.C. rugby league club for an undisclosed price.