Tottenham Hotspur has completed one of the more surprising movements of the year by appointing former Arsenal director Vinai Venkatesham on their board as CEO.
The 44-year-old, who spent more than a decade on the bitter Noord-London rivals of Spurs, will officially take the post this summer in what a significant commotion behind the scenes in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will mark.
Venkatesham left the Emirates at the end of last season, after he first announced his departure in September 2023 and said he thought it was “the right time to take on a new challenge.” Few expected that the challenge would come to the club with which he once participated in one of the fiercest Derbies in World Football.
He now joins Spurs in a time of great transition, where chairman Daniel Levy welcomes his appointment as part of a broader urge to strengthen the executive leadership of the club.
“I have known Vinai for many years,” Levy said in a club statement. “I am personally happy that he agreed to add our board while we build for success.”
Venkatesham added: “After I had taken some time to charge and evaluate my options, I believe that this is an exceptional opportunity to work with Daniel, the board and all employees to help the club move forward.”
A respected figure in sporting and commercial circles, CV van Venkatesham includes a role in the organizing committee for London 2012, as well as non-executive director positions at the British Olympic Association and the Advisory Board of Wembley Stadium. He received an OBE for services on Sport in the New Year's List 2024.
But it was in Arsenal, where he made his name in football and climbing the ranks of head of global partnerships to CEO. During his time in the Emirates, he supervised the appointment of Mikel Arteta, played an important role in stabilizing the club via the Covid Pandemic and helped the Gunners back to the Champions League after years.
Tottenham will hope that he can make similar progress as N17.
Venkatesham agrees with a complex hierarchy, with Scott Munn (Chief Football Officer) and Johan Lange (technical director) already present, while former director of Football Fabio Paraticians continues to act as an informal adviser despite his worldwide ban on football -related activities.
His arrival could cause a recast, in which Venkatesham was expected to take the lead on the daily activities in both the football and commercial sides of the club. His strong relationships with authorities such as the Premier League and European Club Association (ECA) will also be seen as a valuable property.
Venkatesham participates in a list of only a handful of senior figures in football who have made movements at a high level between rival clubs, including Peter Kenyon (Manchester United to Chelsea) and Omar Bercrada (Manchester City to Manchester United).