Former Arsenal CEO becomes Tottenham CEO | OneFootball

Vinai Venkatesham has confirmed his return to football, accepting a senior position at a rival club after nearly a year out of the spotlight.

Vinai Venkatesham and Raul Sanllehi via Arsenal FC

Vinai Venkatesham, the former Arsenal chief executive, will join the board of Tottenham Hotspur this summer as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer, ending months of speculation over his next move. The appointment was announced on Friday afternoon by Tottenham, with both Venkatesham and Daniel Levy offering statements confirming the decision.

It is a striking development, given Venkatesham’s 14-year tenure at Arsenal, where he served in a number of senior commercial and executive roles before taking over as CEO in 2020.

Though not involved in football operations, Venkatesham became one of the most prominent figures in the club’s post-Wenger restructuring and played a key role in steering Arsenal through the pandemic, major commercial partnerships, and the long-term rebuild under Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar, who has now also departed and been replaced by Andrea Berta.

Venkatesham announced in 2023 that he would step down at the end of the 2023–24 season, giving the club over a year to plan for succession. “This was a tough decision, but it is time to pursue another challenge. Now is not the time for goodbyes as I remain focused until my last day and supporting a seamless transition,” Venkatesham said at the time.

He was succeeded by Richard Garlick in the summer of 2024.

Photo via Arsenal.com

On Friday, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed that Venkatesham would take over as CEO, bringing with him “expertise in both sporting and commercial operations.” Prior to his time at Arsenal, he held senior roles with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and currently sits on the board of the British Olympic Association. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the European Club Association.

Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s executive chairman, said: “The Club has experienced significant growth in recent years, making it crucial to expand our executive management. I have known Vinai for many years, having worked together in the Premier League and the ECA. I am personally delighted that he has agreed to join our Board as we build for success.”

Venkatesham added: “I’m excited to be joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer. After taking some time to recharge and evaluate my options, I believe this is an exceptional opportunity to work with Daniel, the Board and all of the staff, to take the Club forward.”