Keith Edelman
Encyclopedia
Keith Edelman is an English
businessman. He was Managing Director of Arsenal Football Club between 2000 and 2008.
in 1971 with a BSc (Hons)
in Management Sciences. He then worked for Rank Xerox
, IBM
and Fiat
before joining Bank of America
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
as a UK Strategic Director/Director of Finance, Foods Division. In 1985 he joined the Ladbroke Group as Corporate Planning Director and Chairman of Texas Homecare
, a chain of DIY stores. In 1991 he left to become Managing Director of Carlton Communications
and in 1993 Group Chief Executive of Storehouse plc
which included Mothercare
and BHS
.
He also has a number of executive and non-executive appointments, including Eurotunnel
(Audit & Remuneration Committees 1994–2004), Haberdashers' Aske's School (Governor 1994–2005), Include (Director (Charity) 1997–2001), Glenmorangie
(Chairman 2002–2005), Qualceram Shires plc (Director 2005 to date) and Metrobet (Chairman 2006 to date).
, valued at £130 million over 10 years.
He and fellow directors Danny Fiszman
and Ken Friar
were heavily involved in the club's development of its new stadium and the raising of £380 million of banking facilities. He also completed one of the largest football sponsorship deals with Emirates Airlines for over £100 million, including naming rights to the Emirates Stadium
. He signed a controversial sponsorship deal between the club and the Israel
i Tourism Ministry, as Arsenal's main sponsor, Emirates Airlines, are the national carrier of Dubai
(which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel) and do not fly to Israel. The club, however, denied any rift with Emirates Airlines stemming from the agreement.
In 2007 Keith became club President of the Arsenal Ladies
team, a position previously held by David Dein
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 was sacked from his positions at Arsenal Holdings plc on 1 May 2008.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
businessman. He was Managing Director of Arsenal Football Club between 2000 and 2008.
Business
Keith Edelman graduated from UMISTUMIST
The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology 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...
in 1971 with a BSc (Hons)
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Management Sciences. He then worked for Rank Xerox
Rank Xerox
Rank Xerox was formed in 1956 as a joint venture between the Xerox Corporation of U.S. and the Rank Organisation of UK, to manufacture and market Xerox equipment initially in Europe and later in Africa and Asia...
, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
before joining Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
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
Grand Metropolitan plc is a former United Kingdom-based company operating hotels, holiday centres, entertainment centres, public houses and casinos...
as a UK Strategic Director/Director of Finance, Foods Division. In 1985 he joined the Ladbroke Group as Corporate Planning Director and Chairman of Texas Homecare
Texas Homecare
Texas Homecare was a chain of DIY stores in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, that operated from 1972 until 1999.-History:Texas Homecare was established in 1972 by Manny, Sydney and Gerald Fogel, who had previously founded the high street specialist paint and wallpaper chain Home Charm...
, a chain of DIY stores. In 1991 he left to become Managing Director of Carlton Communications
Carlton Communications
Carlton Communications was a British media company. It was led by Michael Green and listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1983 until 2 February 2004, when it taken over by Granada plc to form ITV plc with Carlton gaining 32% of the new company....
and in 1993 Group Chief Executive of Storehouse plc
Storehouse plc
Storehouse plc 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 it was renamed Mothercare in 2000....
which included Mothercare
Mothercare
Mothercare plc is a British retailer which specialises in products for expectant mothers and in general merchandise for children up to 8 years old. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
and BHS
BHS
BHS may refer to:* Baggage handling system, a type of conveyor system installed in airports* Barbershop Harmony Society, the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form* Beck Hopelessness Scale, a psychological test...
.
He also has a number of executive and non-executive appointments, including Eurotunnel
Eurotunnel
Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. manages and operates the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France. The Company operates the car shuttle services and earns revenue on other trains passing through the tunnel...
(Audit & Remuneration Committees 1994–2004), Haberdashers' Aske's School (Governor 1994–2005), Include (Director (Charity) 1997–2001), Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie is a distillery in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland that produces single malt Scotch whisky. The distillery is owned by The Glenmorangie Company Ltd, whose main product is the range of Glenmorangie single malt whisky. Glenmorangie is categorised as a Highland distillery and boasts the...
(Chairman 2002–2005), Qualceram Shires plc (Director 2005 to date) and Metrobet (Chairman 2006 to date).
Arsenal Football Club
In 2000 he joined Arsenal Football Club 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 NikeNike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, valued at £130 million over 10 years.
He and fellow directors Danny Fiszman
Danny Fiszman
Daniel David Fiszman was a diamond dealer, best known as a shareholder in and director of Arsenal Football Club, and played a leading role in the club's move from Highbury to Ashburton Grove, now known as Emirates Stadium....
and Ken Friar
Ken Friar
Kenneth John Friar OBE is a director of Arsenal Football Club, he lives in Winchmore Hill, North London. He is currently the club's acting managing director....
were heavily involved in the club's development of its new stadium and the raising of £380 million of banking facilities. He also completed one of the largest football sponsorship deals with Emirates Airlines for over £100 million, including naming rights to the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
. He signed a controversial sponsorship deal between the club and the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Tourism Ministry, as Arsenal's main sponsor, Emirates Airlines, are the national carrier of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
(which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel) and do not fly to Israel. The club, however, denied any rift with Emirates Airlines stemming from the agreement.
In 2007 Keith became club President of the Arsenal Ladies
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
team, a position previously held by David Dein
David Dein
David Barry Dein is the former vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club and former vice-chairman of the Football Association. He was also the President of the G-14 group of European football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA and UEFA including...
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 was sacked from his positions at Arsenal Holdings plc on 1 May 2008.