Man Utd make further redundancies with senior club figures leaving

Manchester United’s sweeping executive changes continue, with head of human resources Annie Hale, commercial director Florence Lafaye, and chief commercial development officer James Holroyd all set to leave the club.

These departures mark another phase in the club’s leadership overhaul following a “strategic review” initiated after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS acquired a minority stake in early 2024. Club sources insist the exits were voluntary rather than forced.

Initially, Ratcliffe’s control was limited to sporting operations, with the Glazers retaining majority ownership. However, INEOS has since expanded its influence to include the club’s business and operational affairs.

This latest shake-up follows the departures of former chief executive Richard Arnold, interim CEO Patrick Stewart, alliances and partnerships CEO Victoria Timpson, chief financial officer Cliff Baty, football director John Murtough, digital products and experiences CEO Phil Lynch, and ex-communications chief Ellie Norman.

Hale’s role under INEOS has largely focused on overseeing the club’s redundancy process, with 250 staff laid off last summer and up to 200 more expected to follow. Her job title was changed to “people & transformation director” in September, reflecting the club’s ongoing restructuring efforts.

Lafaye played a key role in United’s commercial success, helping secure major sponsorships with Adidas and Snapdragon. Holroyd served as the main point of contact for Adidas, securing a £900m contract extension despite the team’s struggles on the pitch.

With their departures, Collette Roche, the club’s chief operating officer, remains the only senior figure from the previous leadership team. Her role has reportedly evolved, now including responsibilities at United’s Carrington training complex.

INEOS has been assembling its own leadership team, bringing in Omar Berrada from Manchester City as CEO and Marc Armstrong from Paris Saint-Germain as chief business officer. Key INEOS figures such as Dave Brailsford and Roger Bell have taken on major roles, while Gary Hemingway is now focused on football data analytics and infrastructure projects.

On the football side, Jason Wilcox was appointed technical director, while Christopher Vivell, formerly of Chelsea and the Red Bull Group, is working on recruitment. United also made headlines last year by hiring Dan Ashworth from Newcastle for a significant fee, only to part ways with him within five months, costing the club millions.

The overhaul at United is still ongoing, with INEOS reshaping the club’s structure both on and off the pitch.