CITY are today delighted to announce the appointment of former Fulham Managing Director David McNally as the Club's new Chief Executive.
McNally was unveiled by the City Board in a press conference at Carrow Road today and will commence his new role on Monday, June 22.
The 47-year-old left Fulham in December 2008 after four years during which he helped to significantly grow the Cottagers' income, preserve their Premiership status and appoint current boss Roy Hodgson, who saved them from relegation against the odds in 2008 and guided them to European qualification in 2009.
Prior to his successful stint with the southwest London club, McNally was Sales and Marketing Director with Celtic for four years where, working alongside former City player and boss Martin O'Neill, he helped the Scottish giants to approximately double their off-the-field income.
Before his move to Celtic, McNally held a number of roles at blue chip companies including Courtaulds Textiles, Sara Lee, L'Oreal, Max Factor and Colgate-Palmolive. This year he has worked as a consultant to a number of businesses. He is married, with a 22-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter.
The new man appointed to lead the Canaries as they face up to the challenges of life in League One told First News it was the strength and passion of the Club's fanbase and Board members which persuaded him to join Norwich - and confirmed promotion from League One has to be the objective for the Club.
He commented: "It was the size of the Club and knowing what a fantastic fanbase it has, with so many loyal supporters, which were the main factors in me wanting to take up this challenge. The Club has so much potential and so many strengths and I'm excited about working to help capitalise on that in the months and years ahead.
"It was also the passion of the owners and Directors in the shape of Delia Smith, Michael Wynn Jones and Michael Foulger which attracted me. It's so important to have people at Board level who share passion for the Football Club and the Directors here definitely have it.
"Clearly promotion from League One is essential - everyone in the Football Club needs to be focussed on getting us back to the Championship.
"Consolidation for a season is not something I would be interested in and I sense I'm not alone in that. Of course, no team has a divine right to promotion from any division but the fact remains that the size of the Club and its support demands a positive attitude and a commitment to promotion as the objective. It's about sheer hard work from everyone at the Club, that is what will give us the best chance of achieving the objective we all share."
On behalf of the Board, joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones commented: "We are delighted to have secured the services of someone of David's calibre. His track record speaks for itself and his experience, drive and ambition are just what is needed to galvanise the Club in these challenging times.
"We have interviewed several people interested in the role and received applications from many more, but David comes with the very highest of recommendations within the game and he stood head and shoulders above the others we spoke to. We are very excited about working with David and new Board Directors who we will be announcing in the near future to start a new era for this great club."
