Tan Kesler
{{Short description|Turkish executive}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tan Kesler
| image = Tan Kesler Press.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Kesler in 2022
| birth_name = Tan Kesler
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|5|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Adana, Turkey
| height = 1.85m
| education = Kean University
New York University
| occupation = Businessman
Football executive
| family =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Ksenia Shamilova|2019}}
| children = 1
| relatives =
| nationality = Turkish
| website =
| net_worth =
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office1 = Vice-chairman – Hull City
| term_start1 = 19 January 2022
| term_end1 = 17 October 2024
| predecessor1 = Ehab Allam
| successor1 = TBA
| office2 = Vice-chairman – Pogoń Szczecin
| term_start2 = 21 March 2025
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = Karol Zaborowski
| successor2 =
| office3 = CEO – Pogoń Szczecin
| term_start3 = 17 March 2025
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
}}
}}
Tan Kesler (born 14 May 1979) is a Turkish businessman and football executive who is the current vice-chairman and CEO of Ekstraklasa club Pogoń Szczecin. He previously worked as the vice-chairman of EFL Championship club Hull City.{{cite web|url=https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/club/directors/tan-kesler/|title=TAN KESLER|publisher=Hull City A.F.C.|access-date=4 August 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/news/2022/february/board-of-directors-confirmed|title=Board of Directors confirmed|date=15 February 2022|publisher=Hull City A.F.C.|access-date=28 May 2024}}
Early life
Kesler was born on 14 May 1979 in Adana, Turkey. He is the son of former Turkish international footballer and coach {{interlanguage link|Şevket Kesler|tr}}. He earned a BA in International Business and Finance at Kean University. During his time there, Kesler would feature for the university's basketball team.{{cite web|url=https://keanathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tan-kesler/6416|title=Tan Kesler|access-date=4 August 2024|website=Kean Athletics}} He would later earn an MA in Sports Business at New York University.
Career
Kesler is a former FIFA-licensed agent and was the president of HTK Sports & Media from 2017 until 2022.{{cite news|url=https://the72.co.uk/2021/12/13/who-is-hull-citys-proposed-new-director-of-football-tan-kesler-who-do-htk-sports-media-represent/|title=Who is Hull City's proposed new director of football Tan Kesler + who do HTK Sports & Media represent?|date=13 December 2021|publisher=The 72|access-date=28 May 2024}} He also previously worked for the Turkish Football Federation.
In January 2022, Kesler was an important figure in the acquisition of Hull City A.F.C. for businessman Acun Ilıcalı and his company Acun Medya.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3080158/2022/01/20/acun-ilicali-the-turkish-tv-millionaire-with-dreams-of-helping-hull-city-roar-again/|title=Acun Ilicali, the Turkish TV millionaire with dreams of helping Hull City roar again|date=20 January 2022|publisher=The Athletic|access-date=4 August 2024}} After the takeover was completed, he was appointed vice-chairman of the club by Ilıcalı.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/simon-cowell-hull-premier-league-crazy-turkey-b2003082.html|title='Crazy owner' Acun Ilicali targets the Premier League following Hull takeover|date=28 January 2022|work=The Independent|access-date=28 May 2024}} In order to dedicate himself to the role, Kesler waived all his other ongoing sports and media consultancy duties.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3431038/2022/07/25/hull-city-championship/|title=Hull City: Ambitious owner and cosmopolitan squad aiming to conquer Championship|date=25 July 2022|publisher=The Athletic|access-date=28 May 2024}}
Kesler was also influential for Acun Medya in their acquisition of Shelbourne F.C. in July 2023,{{cite news|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/hull-city-vice-chairman-outlines-30355380|title=Hull City vice-chairman outlines his European ambitions for Shelbourne|date=29 June 2023|publisher=Irish Mirror|access-date=28 May 2024}} although their ownership of the Irish club would only last four months.{{cite news|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/acun-ilicali-shelbourne-hull-city-8899300|title=Hull City owner Acun Ilicali confirms Shelbourne decision as statement released|date=11 November 2023|publisher=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=4 August 2024}} On 7 June 2024, it was announced that Kesler had been admitted to the EFL Board as a representative of the EFL Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/news/2024/june/07/tan-kesler-appointed-on-efl-board/|title=Tan Kesler appointed on EFL Board|date=7 June 2024|publisher=Hull City A.F.C.|access-date=4 August 2024}} On 17 October 2024, Kesler left Hull by mutual consent.{{cite news| url = https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/news/2024/october/17/club-statement--tan-kesler/ | title = Club Statement: Tan Kesler | date = 17 October 2024 | publisher = Hull City A.F.C. | accessdate = 17 October 2024}}
On 17 March 2025, he was named CEO, and on 21 March he became vice-president of Pogoń Szczecin, the fourth-placed club in the Ekstraklasa.{{cite web |date=16 March 2025 |title=Jest nowy lider! Oto tabela Ekstraklasy po hitowej kolejce |url=https://www.sport.pl/pilka/7,65039,31773812,jest-nowy-lider-oto-tabela-ekstraklasy-po-hitowej-kolejce.html |access-date=22 March 2025 |website=Sport.pl |language=pl}}{{cite news| url = https://pogonszczecin.pl/w/ale | title = Aktualizacja struktury organizacyjnej Pogoni Szczecin | date = 17 March 2025 | publisher = Pogoń Szczecin SA | accessdate = 17 March 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Konferencja prasowa z udziałem nowego właściciela i nowych władz Pogoni Szczecin |url=https://pogonszczecin.pl/w/konferencja-prasowa-z-udzia%C5%82em-nowego-w%C5%82a%C5%9Bciciela-i-nowych-w%C5%82adz-pogoni-szczecin |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Pogoń Szczecin |language=pl-PL}}
Personal life
Kesler married Ksenia Shamilova on 29 December 2019. The couple have a son together, born on 26 April 2022.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kesler, Tan}}
Category:Businesspeople from Adana