Susan Whelan Crowned CEO Of The Year 2021

Leicester City CEO, Susan Whelan was crowned overall CEO of the Year sponsored by General Sports Worldwide at the Football Business Awards in London yesterday.

Whelan claimed the top award from the five divisional CEO of the Year winners across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL.

Jon Varney took the prize for the EFL Championship and in Leagues One and Two, Ben Mansford (Blackpool FC) and Henry Staelans (Forest Green Rovers) were the winners. In the SPFL, the prize went to Stewart Robertson of Rangers FC.  

Manchester United legend, Gary Neville received the coveted Global Football Ambassador Award which recognised the important impact he has made on football away from the pitch.

Previous recipients of the Global Ambassador Award include Sir Bobby Charlton CBE, Jimmy Armfield CBE, Sir Trevor Brooking CBE and Tony Adams MBE.

Clubs from across the UK football pyramid joined sponsors, partners, community schemes and businesses to celebrate exceptional work in the game across 26 categories at a lunchtime ceremony at The Brewery in London.

Now in its 9th addition, the Football Business Awards recognise and reward the off-pitch talents and endeavours that are an invaluable, part of the fabric of football and the communities clubs serve.

Attended by over 350 leading football industry executives, the awards are considered the industry’s foremost accolade, attracting hundreds of entries every year from both the business units within football clubs and those professional services and businesses dedicated to supporting clubs and the game itself.

Football Business Awards 2021 Winners

Simon Burton, Co-founder of the Football Business Awards, said: “The last year has shown how important football is to so many people. The way in which the football clubs and the businesses that support them have risen to the challenge of the pandemic proves this is no ordinary business. It is at the heart of communities everywhere and we are honoured to celebrate these outstanding achievements and initiatives.”

The winners are:

Global Football Ambassador Award: Gary Neville

fcbusiness Overall CEO of the Year: Susan Whelan, Leicester City FC

CEO of the Year (Premier League): Susan Whelan, Leicester City FC

CEO of the Year (Championship): Jon Varney, Brentford FC

CEO of the Year (League One): Ben Mansford, Blackpool FC

CEO of the Year (League Two): Henry Staelens, Forest Green Rovers FC

CEO of the Year (SPFL): Stewart Robertson – Rangers FC

Best Club Marketing: Everton FC – More Than Eleven 

Best in Football Media: NEO Studios – Take us Home: Leeds United

Best Use of Technology in Football: Liverpool FC

Sponsorship/Partnership of the Year: Leyton Orient FC & Harry Kane 

Best Brand Activation – Non Premier League: Ball Street Network

Best Brand Activation – Premier League: Manchester United FC & Cadbury

Best Football Community Scheme: Albion in the Community

Best Professional Service Business Serving Football: KSS

Best Use of Technology in Football: English Football League – iFollow 

Best New Player/Contract Signing Reveal Campaign: Tottenham Hotspur FC

Best Digital/Social Media Team: Motherwell FC

Innovation Award: The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and Vodafone

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme: BT & #DiscoverDisabilityFootball – Cake

Agency of the Year: LiveWire Sport 

Best Business Serving Football: Little Kickers Group 

Best Fan Engagement by a Club: Leicester City FC

Best Covid-19 Community Response – Non-Premier League: Dons Local Action Group with AFC Wimbledon Foundation

Best Covid-19 Community Response – Premier League: Everton FC and Everton in the Community

Financial Performance Award: St Mirren FC

To find the full list of winners, silver and bronze recipients and for more information, visit: Football Business Awards