Liverpool FC appoints new top man

Jun 22 2009 By John Thompson, Head of Sport

Christian Purslow

LIVERPOOL today appointed a new man to run the club following the resignation of long serving chief executive Rick Parry this summer.

Christian Purslow, a well-respected 45-year-old business expert and lifelong Liverpool supporter, has been appointed to the new post of managing director by American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The news comes just a day after Gillett sold his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team for a reported £333m.

Purslow is a Cambridge University and Harvard graduate and a fluent Spanish speaker whose family hail from Wirral. His father worked for Littlewoods in the 1960s.

He has already begun working closely with manager Rafa Benitez.

Purslow has been head-hunted for the newly created role of MD – though it is being stressed the search for a new long term chief executive officer at Anfield continues.

Once that appointment has been decided upon, the club say Purslow will continue as a Liverpool club director.

His role is therefore an interim one at a key period for the Reds as they plan for the new season.

In a statement issued today Liverpool said: "Christian Purslow will assume overall management of the club until the appointment of a new chief executive, and will then continue as a board director.

"As managing director, Purslow will represent the owners and oversee all financial and operational aspects of the club, working with Rafa Benitez on player transfers and with the club's group chief financial officer, Philip Nash and commercial director, Ian Ayre on club and commercial management."