MY ACCOUNT
Darren Eales has switched Atlanta United for Newcastle United to join as chief executive officer as the Magpies continue to assemble their boardroom staff.
Newcastle managed to convince Dan Ashworth to leave Brighton and Hove Albion to become their sporting director in May, seven months after their controversial Saudi-backed takeover.
Ashworth will now be joined by Eales, who he worked alongside at West Brom between 2006 and 2010, with the 49-year-old leaving MLS side Atlanta, where he was president and chief executive officer (CEO).
Eales heads to Tyneside with sizeable boardroom experience, having been named the MLS Executive of the Year on two occasions and the World Football Summit Executive of the Year in 2019.
“Newcastle United is both a giant of a club, and the heartbeat of its community,” said Eales, who also has administrative experience with Tottenham.
“Every time I have visited St. James’ Park, I’ve been overwhelmed by the passion of the fans.
“This is a club with an amazingly rich heritage, and I am delighted to be joining for this new chapter in its long history.
“I am grateful for the opportunity, and look forward to working with the rest of the team to help this storied club fulfil its potential.”
Eales also has previous history with Newcastle, having sold Miguel Almiron to the Premier League side after the forward helped Atlanta become MLS Cup winners in 2018.
“We are delighted to announce Darren Eales as the club’s new CEO,” Newcastle’s investment group added. “He is an exceptional leader and is a great fit for Newcastle United.
“We have conducted an exhaustive recruitment process to ensure we identified and secured the right individual for the CEO position, and we are confident we have found that person in Darren.
“He has a deep understanding of the football industry and what it takes to achieve growth and success, and he will be a key member of the club’s leadership team as we look to deliver on the club’s potential on and off the pitch.”
