Nationality English Role Executive | Name Ian Ayre | |
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Born 6 July 1963(age 52) Liverpool Occupation CEO Liverpool Football Club Similar People Tom Werner, John W Henry, Brendan Rodgers, Christian Purslow, Kenny Dalglish | ||
Liverpool fc managing director ian ayre talks about steven gerrard s inspirational leadership
Ian Ayre is the current chief executive officer of Liverpool Football Club.
Contents
Biography
Born in Liverpool on 6 July 1963, he was educated at Litherland High School.
Career
Leaving school at age 16, he joined the Royal Navy. After leaving the senior service, he then undertook various roles in business in Asia, eventually becoming chief executive of Pace Systems.
Returning to the UK, he became Chief Executive and Chairman of Huddersfield Town F.C. for three years, before spending three years at sports TV firm Premium TV, an NTL subsidiary. He then moved to Malaysia, as CEO of Total Sports Asia, which included managing interests in Total Sports TV.
He is also currently the Chairman of The Visitor Economy Committee for The Mersey Partnership, overseeing the visitor economy for the Liverpool City Region.
Liverpool FC
Head hunted by a team working for then owners Tom Hicks and George N. Gillett, Jr., in 2007 Ayre was appointed Commercial Director at Liverpool. He used the Asian Liverbird book, a book showcasing the clubs international fan base, to secure a shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered Bank - believed to be one of the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deals in football.
On 15 October 2010, NESV completed its £300m takeover of Liverpool, at which time the clubs existing Managing Director Christian Purslow stepped down. The club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, led by John W. Henry and the chairman Tom Werner, announced Ayre as the new Managing Director on 22 March 2011.