The Premier League is pleased to announce that at a club meeting today Anthony Fry was unanimously endorsed as the League’s new Chairman.
Fry, aged 57, will take up the position effective as of 1 June 2013 ahead of the Premier League’s Annual General Meeting.
Fry’s appointment follows a comprehensive recruitment process undertaken by a Nominations Committee chaired by Bruce Buck (Chelsea) along with Peter Coates (Stoke City), David Gill (Manchester United) and John Williams (formerly Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City).
In a distinguished career, principally in the financial sector where for a long period he specialised in the media industry, Fry has held numerous Chairmanships and Board positions across a range of business, public, charitable and academic bodies. He is currently Chairman of the Finance Committee of the BBC Trust, a position from which he will be stepping down after an appropriate period of transition which he is discussing with the BBC.
Fry is a passionate sportsman and a keen football fan.
Bruce Buck said: “First I would like to thank my fellow members of the Nominations Committee and Odgers Berndston for their diligent and attentive work during this process.
“There were a number of outstanding candidates, any of whom would have made a fine Premier League Chairman, but in Anthony Fry we have appointed an individual with the correct blend of experience, skills, attitude and demeanour to represent the best interests of the Premier League.
“Anthony’s CV speaks for itself, but we were particularly impressed by his aptitude for and understanding of the role, as well as believing his style to be particularly well-suited to developing effective working relationships with both the member clubs and the Executive of the Premier League.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to place on record, on behalf of the clubs, our sincere thanks to Sir Dave Richards for his years of service to the Premier League.”
Anthony Fry said: “I have been privileged to work in some exceptional organisations across a range of interesting and diverse areas with some extremely talented people. The opportunity to become Chairman of the Premier League is one that appealed hugely to me for obvious reasons.
“I have a deep-seated and long-held passion for sport and believe the skills and attributes I have developed throughout all aspects of my career will serve both the Premier League clubs and the Executive extremely well.
“The League is one of the country’s great success stories of recent times having overseen a period of rising playing standards, substantial investment in infrastructure and development, significant growth in attendances and viewing figures as well as the marked commercial success that has benefitted the English game as a whole.
“The domestic profile and international standing of the Premier League demonstrates what a fantastic competition has developed over the past 21 seasons, driven by the investments of the clubs and the collective strength of the League.
“The Premier League and its member clubs have already achieved a great deal and are always striving to meet challenges and do better.
“That is something in which I want to play a part and I am looking forward immensely to helping the clubs and the Executive improve on what is already an incredibly successful competition and business.”
