Peter Kenyon

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Peter Kenyon (born 1954) is the chief executive of Chelsea Football Club, of the Premier League in England. He is the former production director and chief executive of sportswear firm Umbro.^[1] His first job at a football club was at Manchester United, but he was targeted by Chelsea shortly after the Roman Abramovich takeover. After a spell of gardening leave^[2] he officially joined Chelsea in February 2004.^[3] This was met with widespread controversy because Kenyon had consistently professed to be a life-long supporter of the Old Trafford club.^[1]

Kenyon is the main spokesman for the non-footballing side of Chelsea as Roman Abramovich does not give interviews or attend press conferences and Chelsea's chairman Bruce Buck keeps a low profile. Kenyon's background is in marketing, and he was recruited by Chelsea to increase the club's commercial income.

Since joining Chelsea, Kenyon has been involved in high-profile controversies^[4] including an attempt to persuade the manager of the England national team Sven-Göran Eriksson to become manager of Chelsea, and the tapping-up of former Arsenal F.C. and current England left-back Ashley Cole. His very business-minded emphasis on selling football clubs as "brands" alienates some traditional supporters.

Kenyon attracted particular criticism after the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, in which Chelsea lost on penalties to Manchester United. The winning side were led to receive their medals by Sir Bobby Charlton, who declined a medal having not been involved in the game. Chelsea were led to receive their runners-up medals by Peter Kenyon, who accepted one from UEFA president Michel Platini. The clubs' respective representation by a famed ex-player and a non-playing Chief Executive was claimed to be symbolic of their contrasting approaches to the modern game.^[5]^[6]