Everton provided an update on the club’s summer of transition on Friday, announcing a new-look board that contains some familiar faces.
The headline news was that Bill Kenwright will remain as chairman, with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri recording his delight at his decision to remain in post. Moshiri wants Kenwright to help oversee the changes at the top of the club, after which it appears Kenwright’s position may be re-appraised.
Moshiri has also joined the board as a non-executive director in the other significant move contained within the announcement.
Three other figures, two internal appointments, have also been moved into key roles - Colin Chong, James Maryniak and John Spellman. This is an overview of the characters who may be less well known by supporters.
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Colin Chong
Mr Chong is a name that has become increasingly familiar with Everton fans over recent years. He had been the club’s chief stadium development officer and taken charge of overseeing the construction of the new waterfront stadium being built at Bramley-Moore Dock. Chong has been the face of the project, providing updates on progress in both public settings and professional ones to bodies such as the club’s Fan Advisory Board.
Formerly a project leader at construction firm Laing O’Rourke, he moved to Everton in 2016 to become head of estates at Goodison Park before taking on the Everton Stadium job. Over more than three decades in construction he worked on sporting projects including Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium and redevelopment work at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground.
In addition to his stadium role, he has also been responsible for the operational management of Everton's business headquarters at the Royal Liver Building.
James Maryniak
Currently the director of finance, Mr Maryniak has been appointed as interim chief finance officer. This essentially means he will oversee all financial matters at the club. Having already been working in this field at Everton the appointment will see him take on the additional responsibilities left by the departure of Grant Ingles earlier this month - though unlike Mr Ingles he will not take up a position on the board. Moshiri said of the appointment of both him and Mr Chong: “In Colin and James, we have two experienced senior club professionals who have agreed to take on enhanced roles on an interim basis, and who we know can and will deliver immediately.”
John Spellman
Mr Spellman will sit on the board as a non-executive director - the same title that Moshiri will now hold and one that Graeme Sharp had before his exit earlier this month. An Everton supporter, he is a chartered accountant with decades of experience working in the energy sector - both in the Canadian oil and gas industry and in UK energy supply. He has held roles including chief executive and finance director and has previously sought to help underperforming companies work on exploiting untapped potential. According to the Everton website, which now features a short profile of him, he “has a consistent track record of recovering and developing companies, as well as initiating and delivering complex transactions and creative fundraising in diverse and difficult situations.” He has previously worked with Moshiri at board level.
