NORWICH City today ushered in the start of a new era with the appointment of three more Board Directors - including a new Club Chairman.

The new Chairman of Norwich City Football Club is Alan Bowkett, who brings a huge wealth of blue chip business experience into his leading role at Carrow Road.

Joining him on the Board is Stephan Phillips, Managing Director of Archant Norfolk, the company which produces the Eastern Daily Press, the Evening News and numerous weekly newspapers around the county.

The third new Board member is Chief Executive David McNally, who took up his key role with the Canaries on June 22. McNally was Director of Sales and Marketing with Celtic for four years and Managing Director at Fulham in the Premiership for four more. He was also on the Board at the London club.

The three join existing Directors Delia Smith, Michael Wynn Jones and Michael Foulger to take the strength of the new-look City Board of Directors up to six.

Joint Majority Shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones commented: "The foundations are now in place to enable us to get to where we want to be.

"This new Board is very experienced and ambitious and now it's all about getting on with the job."

Alan Bowkett said: "It is a privilege and a surprise to be invited to lead the Board of Norwich City in these difficult financial times nationwide.

"Our task at Norwich City is a simple one - we must start winning football matches. It will be the Board's responsibility to ensure that we have the appropriate resources to do that, both human and financial.

"I believe the changes announced today are a first step and I am particularly looking forward to working with David to ensure my 13-year-old son's dreams for our Club become a reality."

Stephan Phillips said: "This is a real honour and I'm absolutely ecstatic - I've been a fan of Norwich City Football Club ever since I moved to Norfolk 23 years ago.

"Michael Wynn Jones, Delia Smith and Michael Foulger have given so much to, and done so much for the Club, and I'm over the moon at being a part of it."

David McNally added: "I'm delighted to join the Board at such an exciting time and I look forward to working with both Alan and Stephan, along with the existing Directors, as we agree a new way forward for this great Football Club."

Profiles

Alan Bowkett

A lifelong Canary fan and member of the NCFC Associate Directors Group, Alan Bowkett, 58, retired earlier this week from his role as Chairman of national homes construction company Redrow, a FTSE 250 business worth an estimated £1billion.

He was Chief Executive of Norwich-based Boulton and Paul plc in the 1980s and later went on to hold leading roles at a number of British and European businesses, including:

RHP Bearings Ltd - Chief Executive
Anglian Home Improvements - Non-Executive Director
Morgan Grenfell Private Equity - Chairman
Berisford plc - Chief Executive
CVC Capital Partners - European Advisor
RAC plc - Deputy Chairman
Acordis BV (Holland) - Chairman of Supervisory Board
Greene King plc - Non-Executive Director, Chairman of Audit
Doncasters Group plc - Chairman
Seton House Group (formerly Britax plc) - Chairman
Strix Ltd - Chairman
Redrow - Chairman

He was also a former treasurer of the University of East Anglia, Chairman of Social Services for the London Borough of Ealing and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of founders.

Married for 34 years with five children, Bowkett is an organic farmer in Cambridgeshire and the Scottish borders in his spare time.

Stephan Phillips

Stephan Phillips, 54, has been the Managing Director of Archant Norfolk since 2007. Prior to that he was the Development Director for Archant, responsible for developing Archant's digital assets.

For 10 years he was the Advertising Director for Archant Norfolk and prior to that he worked for the Thomson Corporation, CWS and Sainsbury's.

He has a first degree from Nottingham Trent University and was awarded a Master of Science degree for his academic research into Consumer Disloyalty Behaviour from the University of Glamorgan. In 2004 Stephan was nominated by the Financial Times as one of the top 50 creative business people in the UK.

A keen fan of Norwich City Football Club for many years, he is also a member of the Associate Directors' Group.

Stephan is married with two grown-up children. His interests include the arts and golf.

David McNally

David McNally, 47, was recently appointed Chief Executive of the Club and formally started at Carrow Road on June 22.

He 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 significantly increase 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. A graduate of London Business School, he is married, with a 22-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter. He enjoys literature and running in his spare time.