Ed Woodward
{{Short description|English banker}}
{{for multi|the actor|Edward Woodward|the Australian jurist|Edward Woodward (judge)}}
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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ed Woodward
| birth_name = Edward Gareth Woodward
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|11|9|df=y}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U258729 |title=WOODWARD, Edward Gareth |work=Who's Who 2014 |publisher=A & C Black |year=2014 |edition=online }}{{subscription required}}
| birth_place = Chelmsford, Essex, England
| education =
| alma_mater = University of Bristol
| employer = {{Plainlist|
| title = Executive vice-chairman
| occupation = Accountant
| spouse = {{marriage|Isabelle Nicole Caprano|2001}}
}}
Edward Gareth Woodward (born 9 November 1971) is an English accountant and investment banker who was the executive vice-chairman and effectively the chief executive of Manchester United from 2012 to 2022. Richard Arnold succeeded him in his role.{{cite web |url=https://ir.manutd.com/corporate-governance/management.aspx |title=Management |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=13 September 2019 }}{{cite news |url=http://economia.icaew.com/business/february-2014/you-cant-replicate-manchester-united |title=You can't replicate Manchester United |work=ICAEW Economia |date=12 February 2014 |access-date=13 September 2019 }}{{cite news|title=Woodward to resign from Man Utd role|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56824130|access-date=20 April 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/12510020/ed-woodward-will-leave-manchester-united-in-april-with-richard-arnold-becoming-new-chief-executive-from-february-1|title=Ed Woodward will leave Manchester United in April with Richard Arnold becoming new chief executive from February 1|work=Sky Sports}}
Education
Woodward attended Brentwood School in Brentwood, Essex from 1983 to 1989.{{cite news|url=http://www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/ob/famous-obs|title=Famous OBs|publisher=Brentwood School|access-date=20 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113094110/http://www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/ob/famous-obs|archive-date=13 November 2014|df=dmy-all}} He went on to study physics at the University of Bristol graduating in 1993. He later qualified as a chartered accountant in 1996.
Career
Woodward began working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the accounting and tax advisory department in 1993, before joining J.P. Morgan & Co. as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department in 1999.
In 2005, Woodward advised Malcolm Glazer and the Glazer family during its successful takeover of Manchester United. The Glazer family then recruited Woodward to join the club in a "financial planning" role.
In 2007, Woodward was given charge of the commercial and media operations of Manchester United. It was in this role that Woodward is credited for United's success in tying up lucrative sponsorship deals with companies around the world. In 2005, the club's commercial revenue was £48.7 million. In 2012, it stood at £117.6 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9884218/Manchester-United-owners-move-to-promote-Ed-Woodward-finalises-the-Glazerfication-of-Old-Trafford.html|title=Manchester United owner's move to promote Ed Woodward finalises the 'Glazerfication' of Old Trafford|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 February 2013|access-date=26 August 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21532300|title=Man Utd's Ed Woodward: the man behind the Glazer financial plan|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 February 2013|access-date=26 August 2013}}
Woodward was appointed to the board of directors and named executive vice-chairman of Manchester United in 2012. After the retirement of CEO David Gill the following year, Woodward was promoted to the top operational role at Old Trafford in a restructuring of the club's boardroom. Woodward was succeeded by Richard Arnold as the club's commercial management director.{{cite news |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2013/Feb/ed-woodward-assumes-responsibilities-at-manchester-united.aspx |title=Ed Woodward assumes responsibilities at MU |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=20 February 2013 |access-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626084600/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2013/Feb/ed-woodward-assumes-responsibilities-at-manchester-united.aspx |archive-date=26 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}
In August 2016, Woodward secured the transfer of Paul Pogba for a record breaking fee of £89 million, making him the world's most expensive footballer at the time.{{cite web|title=Paul Pogba joins Manchester United|url=http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2016/paul-pogba-joins-manchester-united.php|website=juventus.com |publisher=Juventus| date=9 August 2016|access-date=9 August 2016}}
On 20 April 2021, Woodward announced he would resign as executive vice-chairman of Manchester United at the end of the year, following unprecedented criticism of Manchester United's failed attempt at forming and joining a European Super League.{{Cite web|title=Ed Woodward resigns as Manchester United chairman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4216750/2021/04/20/ed-woodward-to-resign-as-manchester-united-executive-vice-chairman/|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2021|website=The Athletic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420185908/https://theathletic.com/news/ed-woodward-manchester-united-european-super-leagues/Ztrq9FoSvLO1?source=twitteruk |archive-date=20 April 2021 }} Woodward was reported to have been heavily involved in plans for the Super League "from day one".{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/12284487/ed-woodward-man-utd-chief-was-involved-in-super-league-says-premier-league-club-chief-executive|title=Ed Woodward: Man Utd chief was involved in Super League, says Premier League club chief executive|website=Sky Sports|access-date=3 December 2021}} By the end of that season, he had also overseen Manchester United's worst trophy drought since the mid-1980s, a period of four years without a single piece of silverware.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/solskjaer-shown-up-familiar-failings-extend-man-utd-trophy/tam5tdvdhrln17nc9z7vw7vwt|title=Solskjaer shown up as familiar failings extend Man Utd's trophy drought|website=Goal.com|access-date=3 December 2021}} In an announcement on Manchester United’s website, it was confirmed that Woodward would leave his position on 1st February 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/12510020/ed-woodward-will-leave-manchester-united-in-april-with-richard-arnold-becoming-new-chief-executive-from-february-1|title=Ed Woodward will leave Manchester United in April with Richard Arnold becoming new chief executive from February 1|work=Sky Sports}}{{Cite news|title=United announces new chief executive officer|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-announces-richard-arnold-as-new-chief-executive-officer|date=6 January 2022|work=manutd.com}}
Criticism
Woodward has received consistent criticism for his performance as Manchester United's chief executive.
Woodward's first transfer window in 2013, in which Manchester United completed the signing of Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton but failed to acquire other transfer targets, was described as being "disastrous" by The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10282469/Humiliation-for-Manchester-United-as-new-chief-executive-Ed-Woodward-learns-the-hard-way.html |title=Humiliation for Manchester United as new chief executive Ed Woodward learns the hard way |date=3 September 2013 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph }} After the window closed, some fans demanded the sacking of Woodward.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
In July 2014, the newly appointed Manchester United coach, Louis van Gaal complained that Manchester United's excessive commercial activities could hamper the team's success and hoped there could be some balance to that.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/23/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-us-tour-ed-woodward|title=Louis van Gaal fears Manchester United are too big for their own good|work=The Guardian|date=23 July 2014|access-date=17 August 2014}}
After the 2018 summer transfer window, it was speculated in the media that Woodward had vetoed the transfer targets given to him by then manager José Mourinho at the end of the 2017–18 season. This created tension in the club, with Mourinho and the United fans alike criticising Woodward for the lack of improvement in the squad.{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|title=Manchester United veto José Mourinho's transfer wishlist|url=https://theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/09/manchester-united-veto-jose-mourinho-wishlist-cash-fears|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=10 August 2018|access-date=12 August 2018}}
In January 2020, Woodward's Cheshire home was attacked by a group of disgruntled Manchester United supporters chanting that he was "going to die". This followed similar chanting at Old Trafford during recent Manchester United home games, at which supporters have called for Woodward and the club's owners, the Glazer family, to leave.{{cite news |title=Ed Woodward: Man Utd executive vice-chairman's home comes under attack |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51290264 |access-date=28 January 2020}}
Personal life
Woodward supported non-league Chelmsford City in his youth.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/04f366a0-cb00-11e3-ba95-00144feabdc0|title=Man Utd's Woodward carries burden of finding Moyes' successor|publisher=Financial Times|date=25 April 2014|access-date=25 April 2014}} His father was a fan of both Derby County and Manchester United, and was present for the latter's victory in the 1968 European Cup Final at the old Wembley Stadium.