Peter Kenyon
Encyclopedia
Peter Kenyon is a British businessman who has served as the chief executive of English Premier League clubs Manchester United Football Club
and Chelsea Football Club
, where he has been involved in contentious transfer dealings.
at West Hill School
.
in 1997, where he sat on the Board of Directors. He was promoted to chief executive in August 2000 following the departure of Martin Edwards
. Kenyon was influential in persuading long-serving manager Alex Ferguson
to remain at the club despite Ferguson's original intention to retire in 2002. One of the other notable aspects of Kenyon's time in charge was the fact that the club dismissed their rigid wage structure and spent large sums of money on players such as Juan Sebastian Veron
and Rio Ferdinand
. During his time in his role, the club actually became one of the most financially stable, while simultaneously expanding their global appeal.
He was targeted by Chelsea
shortly after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich
bought the club.
as Roman Abramovich
does not give interviews or attend press conferences and Chelsea's chairman Bruce Buck
keeps a low profile. Kenyon's background is in marketing, and he was recruited by Chelsea to increase the club's commercial income.
His move to Chelsea was controversial, not least as he proclaimed himself as a lifelong Manchester United supporter, and the fact that Chelsea's wealth was seen as a major threat to United's almost unbroken dominance of the English game since the early 1990s.
Since joining Chelsea, Kenyon has been involved in high-profile controversies including an attempt to persuade the manager of the England national team Sven-Göran Eriksson
to become manager of Chelsea, and the tapping-up
of former Arsenal
and current England
left-back Ashley Cole
.
On 16 September 2009, Chelsea announced that Kenyon would be leaving his chief executive role at Chelsea at the end of October.
Kenyon departed his post amid a flurry of speculation that he would replace Garry Cook at Manchester City, the team he supported as a boy.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, where he has been involved in contentious transfer dealings.
Early life
Kenyon was educated in TamesideTameside
The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after the River Tame which flows through the borough and spans the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Stalybridge. Its western...
at West Hill School
West Hill School - Stalybridge
West Hill School is a secondary school in Stalybridge, England specializing in science. It opened in 1927. The headmaster is Mr R J Hewitt. There are three deputy headteachers:- Mr I A Berry, Mr A Owens and Ms A Bell; and an assistant headteacher - Mrs G A Wood...
.
Manchester United
Kenyon took up the role of deputy chief executive at his boyhood team Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in 1997, where he sat on the Board of Directors. He was promoted to chief executive in August 2000 following the departure of Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards
Charles Martin Edwards was the chairman of Manchester United from 1980 until 2002. He now holds the position of honorary life president at the club.- Education :...
. Kenyon was influential in persuading long-serving manager Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
to remain at the club despite Ferguson's original intention to retire in 2002. One of the other notable aspects of Kenyon's time in charge was the fact that the club dismissed their rigid wage structure and spent large sums of money on players such as Juan Sebastian Veron
Juan Sebastián Verón
Juan Sebastián Verón is an Argentinian professional football player who is the current captain and midfielder for Estudiantes de La Plata in the Argentine Primera División....
and Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
. During his time in his role, the club actually became one of the most financially stable, while simultaneously expanding their global appeal.
He was targeted by Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
shortly after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
bought the club.
Chelsea
Kenyon was the main spokesman for the non-footballing side of ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
as Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
does not give interviews or attend press conferences and Chelsea's chairman Bruce Buck
Bruce Buck
Bruce M. Buck is an American attorney and founding managing partner of the London office of U.S. law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom . He is also Chairman of Chelsea Football Club...
keeps a low profile. Kenyon's background is in marketing, and he was recruited by Chelsea to increase the club's commercial income.
His move to Chelsea was controversial, not least as he proclaimed himself as a lifelong Manchester United supporter, and the fact that Chelsea's wealth was seen as a major threat to United's almost unbroken dominance of the English game since the early 1990s.
Since joining Chelsea, Kenyon has been involved in high-profile controversies including an attempt to persuade the manager of the England national team Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
to become manager of Chelsea, and the tapping-up
Tapping-up
In professional team sports, tapping up or tampering is an attempt to persuade a player contracted to one team to transfer to another team, without the knowledge or permission of the player's current team. This kind of approach is often made through the player's agent...
of former Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and current England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
left-back Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole is an Barbadian-English professional footballer who plays for Chelsea and the England national team. He plays as a left-back and has been named one of the best in the world....
.
On 16 September 2009, Chelsea announced that Kenyon would be leaving his chief executive role at Chelsea at the end of October.
Kenyon departed his post amid a flurry of speculation that he would replace Garry Cook at Manchester City, the team he supported as a boy.