Richard Arnold (executive)
Richard Arnold | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 26, 1971 United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Accountant, football executive |
| Years active | 1993–2023 |
| Known for | Chief executive officer of Manchester United (2022–2023) |
Richard Arnold (born 26 April 1971) is a British professional accountant who assumed the role of chief executive officer at Manchester United on 1 February 2022, following the departure of Ed Woodward.
Education
Arnold completed his education at King's School, Chester and later attended the University of Bristol, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1993. He earned his qualification as a Chartered Accountant in 1996 and holds a position as a governor at King's School.
Career
Starting his professional journey in 1993, Arnold joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a senior manager specializing in telecommunications and media. During this time, he played a significant role in the privatisation process of Saudi Telecom Company and contributed to the successful initial public offering of Orange Telecommunications within the UK market.
Between 1999 and 2002, Arnold was employed by Global Crossing Europe Ltd., where he focused on business restructuring initiatives. In 2002, he advanced to become Deputy Managing Director at InterVoice Ltd., where he managed international channel sales and marketing for the Nasdaq-listed technology company.
Arnold became part of Manchester United's leadership team in 2007 as group commercial director. On 1 July 2013, following Chief Executive David Gill's exit, he was elevated to group managing director and appointed director of Manchester United PLC, overseeing the club’s commercial operations. His board memberships included roles at MUTV and Manchester United Merchandising Limited. Arnold was instrumental in broadening Manchester United’s global commercial footprint by launching offices in key locations such as Mayfair, New York City, and Hong Kong.
He negotiated landmark sponsorship agreements, notably securing a record-breaking seven-year kit partnership valued at US$600 million with General Motors/Chevrolet in 2014, followed by a $1.3 billion ten-year sportswear contract with Adidas in 2015—then the highest-value deal ever recorded in sports. Arnold concluded his tenure with the club in November 2023.
His achievements earned him two nominations for the Institute of Directors' Young Director of the Year award (2004, 2005) during his time at InterVoice, and in 2011, he was shortlisted for SportBusiness International Magazine’s Sports Innovator of the Year due to his commercial successes at Manchester United.