Tottenham: Daniel Levy explains Vinai Venkatesham arrival as vision outlined for Spurs to hit 'another level' | OneFootball

Former Arsenal CEO has joined Spurs chairman for first interview since being appointed to newly-created role in April

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The arrival of Venkatesham - also courted by Newcastle - was seen as a coup for Tottenham after he previously spent 14 years in a variety of roles at north London rivals Arsenal, including four as CEO, plus working with the British Olympic Association (BOA), on the board and executive committee of the European Club Association (ECA) and also at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics as well as the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

“I’ve known Vinai for a number of years, without doubt he was the candidate,” chairman Levy said in a new joint-interview with Venkatesham posted on Tottenham’s official YouTube channel and website. “Sometimes when you employ somebody you don’t know if you’re going to get on, but because we’ve known each other that risk wasn’t there.

Venkatesham previously spent 14 years at Arsenal, a spell which included four as CEO

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“So I’m very excited that Vinai has joined us and I think the club is going to benefit enormously from it. Vinai is a good communicator, honest, integrity, bright. He enjoys being challenged and I want to be challenged as well.”

For his part, Venkatesham - who received an OBE last year - insisted that he would not have joined Tottenham if he did not think them capable of hitting new heights in the aftermath of their Europa League triumph in Bilbao last month that finally ended a 17-year wait for a major trophy.

“I think the club has got wonderful foundations,” he said. “I’m biased, I grew up in London so I think the club is based in the greatest city in the world.

“It has an outstanding stadium and training centre, and it’s got a huge global fanbase. The foundations are brilliant, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that there was another level that this football club can get to.

Venkatesham said his and Levy’s complementary skills made for a “really powerful partnership”, revealing that he would be taking “more of a lead day-to-day on operational matters on and off the pitch”, but insisting they would be working together with no significant decisions taken that they aren’t “completely joined at the hip on”.

“That doesn’t mean that we always agree, we often disagree and we often challenge each other. But I think that’s a good thing,” said Venkatesham, who added that Levy was a key part of him deciding to join Tottenham. “I think by working together we will get to better answers.”

Outlining his immediate priorities since starting at Tottenham, Venkatesham referenced the hiring of Thomas Frank to become new manager of the men’s team, searching for a replacement for Robert Vilahamn as women’s head coach and spending time learning what is important to fans, with meetings with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) and Fan Advisory Board scheduled for later this month.

He also said he intends to spend as much time as possible with Tottenham’s 800 staff members to understand what the club does well and where they need to improve moving forward.