Keith Wyness

Infobox Person
name = Keith Wyness


nickname = Chief Wyness, Big Keith, The Don, Bully Beef
caption = Keith Wyness
birth_name = Keith Wyness
birth_date = birth date and age|1957|10|26
birth_place = Aberdeen,Scotland
occupation = Former Everton CEO
other_names = Bully Beef, Chief Wyness, The Don, Bill Wyness
pies = Unknown



footnotes =

Keith Wyness (born 26th October 1957, Aberdeen, Scotland) was Chief Executive Officer of Everton Football Club from September 2004 until 29th July 2008, almost four years to the day since resigning from Aberdeen Football Club.His appointment itself caused some controversy as he resigned from Aberdeen on the 30 July 2004 and had been linked to the vacant position at Everton before his resignation. [cite web
title=Wyness leaves Aberdeen
work = BBC.co.uk
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/3918041.stm
accessdate=July 30
accessyear=2004 ]

Early Years

Prior to football where he built his media profile, his former employers include British Airways, Radisson and the Olympic Club.

In 1978 Wyness was appointed as press officer for British Airways, he was also responsible for marketing of the Concorde.He was also instrumental in the setting up of the "Executive Club" now the worlds largest frequent flyer programme.

In 1986 he relocated to Miami, USA and co-founded Radisson Diamond. He was heavily involved with marketing for the cruise lines and was later involved with attempted and aborted takeover of Cunard.

He was the Founder and later the Managing Director of The Olympic Club, a worldwide marketing programme set up to promote every Olympic sport, and aided the marketing of the sports involved in the Sydney Olympic competition. He left that post to return to Aberdeen after his single client was arrested and subsequently won a court case against both himself and his company paying an undisclosed amount to Mr Tzu in an out of court agreement - www.hcourt.gov.au/media/Zhu.pdf

Aberdeen Football Club

On 22 October 2000 he moved back to his hometown Aberdeen in his native Scotland. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen football club.

On joining the Dons he said "I have no illusions as to the magnitude of the challenge facing me, the Club and Scottish football in general. My task is to ensure that we build on the present strengths, not least of which are our magnificent supporters, and also to make certain we do the basics well."

He became famous for several quotes regarding the behaviour of the Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic which pleased the Dons fans and enraged those of the Old Firm.

"Aberdeen Football Club is a major player in Scottish football and I hope to utilise the experience I have gained to assist in demonstrating a clear way forward, both on and off the field"

At Aberdeen he tried to move the club into a new stadium on green belt land south of the city, however the scheme was called in during the planning process. The move was opposed by a campaign called 'Kingswell Infrastructure First Group' (KIFG). Despite his tactics being compared to those of an 'Iraqi Dictator' and the 'Nazis' by Mike Dunbar, chairman of KIFG, Wyness later went on record as saying that he admired the KIFG's energy and professionalism. Dunbar also likened Wyness to the cruel interpretation of an elephant by Salvador Dali. [cite web
title=Locals bid to thwart Euro 2008 stadium plan; SPL: Aberdeen
work = Scottish Sunday Herald
url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20021027/ai_n12579651| accessdate=October 27
accessyear=2002 ]

He also tried to convince millionaire chairman Stewart Milne to invest some of his own money into the club, but Milne did not oblige.

Everton Football Club

He was installed as Chief Executive of Everton FC in early September 2004 shortly before a EGM meeting had been arranged by shareholders due to their concern about the future of the club following the resignation of former CEO Trevor Birch and the public spat between chairman Bill Kenwright and then director Paul Gregg. [cite web
title=EGM 2004
work = Toffeeweb
url= http://www.toffeeweb.com/club/business/agms/egm_04.asp| accessdate=September 9
accessyear=2004 ]

He is regularly used by Talk Sport Radio Station on many football issues with presenter Mike 'Porky' Parry.

In 2006 he was on the board of directors of proposed radio station 'Original Liverpool FM'. The radio station missed out on the frequency allocation to CityTalk.

He is also a non exec director at the SECC in Glasgow which is building the new National arena for Scotland.

In February 2008, Wyness was vocal in his backing of the idea that Premier League clubs play a 39th game overseas. [cite web
title=Wyness - 39th game not dead
work = Sky Sports News
url= http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11671_3616406,00.html| accessdate=May 27
accessyear=2008 ]

He is currently pursuing the controversial relocation of Everton FC new stadium on a greenspace site in Kirkby, Knowsley, Merseyside. This site is adjacent to a Conservation Area and contains a Site of Special Biological Interest where protected species of Pipistrelle bats, Water Voles etc are resident. This would also involve the demolition of homes that are part of a 15 yr old Housing Co-operative. He runs another company Soccer Range Stadia Ltd, a stadium development company, whilst CEO at Everton FC.

On the 29th July 2008 Everton F.C released a statement on the official club website announcing that Keith Wyness had resigned from his position as CEO. "Everton Football Club wishes to announce that Keith Wyness has resigned his position as Chief Executive Officer and director of the Club. "

Known Directorships

*The Everton Football Club Company Ltd
*Everton Investments Ltd
*Scottish Exhibition Centre Ltd
*Goodison Park Stadium Ltd
*Soccer Range Stadia Ltd
*Live the dream

References

Links

* [http://www.evertonfc.com/club/keith-wyness-profile.html Everton FC Profile]
* [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Wyness-restores-Aberdeens-identity.2399099.jp Wyness restores Aberdeen's identity - the Scotsman, 3rd February 2003]
* [http://www.redfinal.com/wyness_peace.htm Wyness wants Aberdeen to share stadium with Rangers]
* [http://www.lyfab.co.uk/who_we_are.html Live The Dream: Who we are]