Last Friday, Newcastle United announced the surprise arrival of Darren Eales – the former Atlanta United President who’s been appointed our new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
While he comes highly-rated from his time in the MLS, the 49-year-old may be somewhat of an unknown quantity to most Toon fans.
With that in mind, I was fascinated to hear what he had to say on a recent podcast appearance, where he discussed his fan-driven approach to football. In this, he explained why “listening to the supporters” has always been a key part of his ethos, believing every business decision should be made with fans in mind.
His comments will be music to the ears of Newcastle fans, suggesting communication from the top down and a determination to give back will be high on his agenda moving forward.
Speaking to Footballco a few months ago, here’s what our new CEO had to say when asked what he’d bring to the Premier League based on his experience in America:
Darren Eales on landing the job at Newcastle United:
“Newcastle United is both a giant of a club, and the heartbeat of its community. Every time I have visited St. James’ Park, I’ve been overwhelmed by the passion of the fans.
“This is a club with an amazingly rich heritage, and I am delighted to be joining for this new chapter in its long history.
“I am grateful for the opportunity, and look forward to working with the rest of the team to help this storied club fulfil its potential.”
PIF, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media on Darren Eales’ arrival:
“We are delighted to announce Darren Eales as the club’s new CEO. He is an exceptional leader and is a great fit for Newcastle United.
“We have conducted an exhaustive recruitment process to ensure we identified and secured the right individual for the CEO position, and we are confident we have found that person in Darren.
“He has a deep understanding of the football industry and what it takes to achieve growth and success, and he will be a key member of the club’s leadership team as we look to deliver on the club’s potential on and off the pitch.”
