Edward Gareth "Ed" Woodward (born 9 November 1971) is a British former accountant and investment banker, and is the current executive vice-chairman of Manchester United F.C. In his current role, Woodward serves as the chief executive overseeing the operations of the club.
Video Ed Woodward
Education
Woodward attended Brentwood School in Brentwood, Essex from 1983 to 1989. He went on to study Physics at the University of Bristol graduating in 1993. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996.
Maps Ed Woodward
Career
Woodward began working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the accounting and tax advisory department in 1993, before joining J.P. Morgan & Co. as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department in 1999.
In 2005, Woodward advised Malcolm Glazer and the Glazer family during its successful takeover of Manchester United. The Glazer family then recruited Woodward to join the club in a "financial planning" role.
In 2007, Woodward was given charge of the commercial and media operations of Manchester United. It was in this role that Woodward is credited for United's success in tying up lucrative sponsorship deals with companies around the world. In 2005, the club's commercial revenue was £48.7 million. In 2012, it stood at £117.6 million.
Woodward was appointed to the board of directors and named executive vice-chairman of Manchester United in 2012. After the retirement of CEO David Gill the following year, Woodward was promoted to the top operational role at Old Trafford in a restructuring of the club's boardroom. Woodward was succeeded by Richard Arnold as the club's commercial management director.
In August 2016, Woodward secured the transfer of Paul Pogba for a record breaking fee of EUR105 million, making him the most expensive footballer of all time.
Criticism
Woodward's first transfer window, where Manchester United completed the signing of Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton, but failed to acquire other transfer targets, was described as being "disastrous" by The Daily Telegraph. Following the poor summer transfer window in 2013, some fans demanded the sacking of Woodward.
In July 2014, the newly appointed Manchester United coach, Louis van Gaal complained that Manchester United's excessive commercial activities could hamper the team's success and hoped there could be some balance to that.
Personal life
Woodward supported non-league Chelmsford City in his youth. His father was a fan of both Derby County and Manchester United, and was said to have attended Manchester United's 1968 European Cup Final win at the old Wembley Stadium.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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