Keith Edelman
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Keith Edelman (born June 1950) is an English businessman. He was managing director of
Arsenal Football Club Arsenal Football Club, commonly referred to as Arsenal, is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England. Arsenal plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. The club has won 13 league titles (incl ...
between 2000 and 2008.


Biography


Business

Keith Edelman graduated from
UMIST The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) was a university based in the centre of the city of Manchester in England. It specialised in technical and scientific subjects and was a major centre for research. On 1 Oct ...
in 1971 with a BSc (Hons) in
management science Management science (or managerial science) is a wide and interdisciplinary study of solving complex problems and making strategic decisions as it pertains to institutions, corporations, governments and other types of organizational entities. It is ...
s. He then worked for
Rank Xerox Rank is the relative position, value, worth, complexity, power, importance, authority, level, etc. of a person or object within a ranking, such as: Level or position in a hierarchical organization * Academic rank * Diplomatic rank * Hierarchy * ...
, IBM and Fiat before joining
Bank of America The Bank of America Corporation (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank ...
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 Grand Metropolitan plc was a leisure, manufacturing and property conglomerate headquartered in England. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index until it merged with Guinness plc to for ...
as a UK strategic director/director of finance, Foods Division. In 1985, he joined the
Ladbroke Group Ladbrokes Coral is a British gambling company founded in 1886. Its product offering includes sports betting, online casino, online poker, and online bingo. The business is split into two divisions, UK and International. UK operations are c ...
as Corporate Planning Director and completed the major acquisitions and disposals for the Group these included the acquisitions of
Hilton International Hilton Worldwide (legally Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.) is an American multinational hospitality company that manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts. Founded by Conrad Hilton in May 1919, the corporation is now led b ...
, Texas Homecare Plc, Thomson T Line Plc and Gable House Properties Plc. Following the acquisition of Hilton he became chair of
Texas Homecare Texas Homecare was a chain of do it yourself (DIY) stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The firm operated from 1972 until 1996, with some stores lasting until 1999. History Texas Homecare was first established in 1972 by Manny, Sydney and Ge ...
, a chain of
DIY "Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
stores. In 1991, he left to become managing director of Carlton Communications and in 1993 group chief executive of
Storehouse plc Storehouse plc, traded as Storehouse, was a large UK retail business formed by Terence Conran through the merger of various high street chains. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index before ...
which included
Mothercare Mothercare plc is a British retailer which specialises in products for expectant mothers and in general merchandise for children up to eight years of age. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap In ...
and BHS. He has also held a number of non-executive appointments, including
Eurotunnel Getlink, formerly Groupe Eurotunnel, is a European public company based in Paris that manages and operates the infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel between England and France, operates the Eurotunnel Shuttle train service, and earns revenue o ...
(Audit & Remuneration Committees 1994–2004), Haberdashers' Aske's School (Governor 1994–2005), where he was a pupil from prep school through A Levels, Include (Director (Charity) 1997–2001), Glenmorangie (Chairman 2002–2005), Qualceram Shires plc (Director 2005 to 2009) and Arnotts Holdings (2009–2010), Chairman Goals Soccer Centres plc (2013-2016), Senior Independent Director of Supergroup (2009-2018),Non Executive Director of Safestore (2009-2016), Senior Independent Director of Thorntons Plc(2012-2015). Currently he is Chairman Revolution Bars Group Plc, Chairman Pennpetro Group plc, Senior Independent Director Headlam Group Plc, Non Executive Chairman Altitude Group Plc and a Director of the
London Legacy Development Corporation The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is an organisation established in 2012, replacing the Olympic Park Legacy Company. It was formed as a mayoral development corporation under the powers of the Localism Act 2011. The ''mayoral develo ...
.


Arsenal Football Club

In 2000, he joined
Arsenal Football Club Arsenal Football Club, commonly referred to as Arsenal, is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England. Arsenal plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. The club has won 13 league titles (incl ...
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 Nike often refers to: * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine give ...
, valued at £130 million over 10 years. He was instrumental in the club's development of its new stadium and Keith Edelman arranged all the funding raising the £380 million of banking facilities. He also completed one of the largest football sponsorship deals with
Emirates Airlines Emirates ( ar, طَيَران الإمارات DMG: ''Ṭayarān Al-Imārāt'') is one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (the other being Etihad). Based in Garhoud, Dubai, the airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, whic ...
for over £100 million, including naming rights to the Emirates Stadium. He opened the stadium in August 2006 both on time and on budget and set up all the operational aspects of the stadium that has made Emirates so successful. He signed a controversial sponsorship deal between the club and the Israeli Tourism Ministry, as Arsenal's main sponsor, Emirates Airlines, are the national carrier of
Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
(which does not have diplomatic ties with
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
) and do not fly to Israel. The club, however, denied any rift with Emirates Airlines stemming from the agreement. He oversaw the development of
Highbury Square Highbury Square is an apartment complex in Highbury, London. It is a redevelopment of the old Highbury Stadium site, the home stadium of Arsenal F.C. until 2006 when they moved to the newly built Emirates Stadium nearby. History The venue w ...
and pre sold over 90% of all units and brought the project in on time and on budget. In 2007 Keith became club President of the Arsenal Ladies team, a position previously held by
David Dein David Barry Dein (b. 7 September 1943) is a British businessman, known for being a former co-owner and vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club, and former vice-chairman of the Football Association. Dein was vice-chairman of Arsenal between 198 ...
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. He resigned as a Director at Arsenal Holdings plc on 1 May 2008 and continued until May 2009 as a consultant.PLUS Markets Group
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelman, Keith Living people British businesspeople British Jews Arsenal F.C. directors and chairmen IBM employees Alumni of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology Alumni of the Manchester Business School 1950 births