Keith Edelman

Keith Edelman is an English businessman. He was Managing Director of Arsenal Football Club between 2000 and 2008.

Biography

Business

Keith Edelman graduated from UMIST in 1971 with a BSc (Hons) in Management Sciences. He then worked for Rank Xerox, IBM and Fiat before joining Bank of America in 1978. Starting as Planning Manager, EMEA Division and then Finance Director, UK and Nordic Region, he eventually became Managing Director of Bank of America Finance.

In 1983 he joined Grand Metropolitan as a UK Strategic Director/Director of Finance, Foods Division. In 1985 he joined the Ladbroke Group as Corporate Planning Director and Chairman of Texas Homecare, a chain of DIY stores. In 1991 he left to become Managing Director of Carlton Communications and in 1993 Group Chief Executive of Storehouse plc which included Mothercare and BHS.

He also has a number of executive and non-executive appointments, including Eurotunnel (Audit & Remuneration Committees 1994–2004), Haberdashers' Aske's School (Governor 1994–2005), Include (Director (Charity) 1997–2001), Glenmorangie (Chairman 2002–2005), Qualceram Shires plc (Director 2005 to date) and Metrobet (Chairman 2006 to date).

Arsenal Football Club

In 2000 he joined Arsenal Football Club as Managing Director, bringing his financial and business experience to the club. Edelman was responsible for all commercial and administrative activities at the club.In a period of increased commercialization of football he completed the first strategic partnership the Club entered into since its formation, selling a 10 percent stake to Granada Media for £77 million. He has overseen the club's re-branding and crest redesign to limit copyright breaches, and was subsequently involved in a sponsorship deal with Nike, valued at £130 million over 10 years.

He and fellow directors Danny Fiszman and Ken Friar were heavily involved in the club's development of its new stadium and the raising of £380 million of banking facilities. He also completed one of the largest football sponsorship deals with Emirates Airlines for over £100 million, including naming rights to the Emirates Stadium. He signed a controversial sponsorship deal between the club and the Israeli Tourism Ministry, as Emirates Airlines who are the national carrier of Dubai (which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel) and do not fly to Israel. The club, however, denied any rift with their main sponsor. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4753546.stm BBC NEWS | Business | Israel seeking goal with Arsenal ] ]

In 2007 Keith became club President of the Arsenal Ladies team, a position previously held by David Dein until he left Arsenal FC in April of that year. Edelman was always pragmatic about the club's future and did not rule out the club eventually going public or the major shareholders eventually deciding to sell their stakes. [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9070-1338679,00.html Arsenal set to score with full listing - Times Online ] ] He resigned from his positions at Arsenal Holdings plc on 1st May 2008. [ [http://www.plusmarketsgroup.com/story.shtml?ISIN=GB0030895238/GBP/PLUS-exn&NewsID=1209630645000337 PLUS Markets Group ] ]

References