Ivan Gazidis will step down as chief
executive of English football club Arsenal to move to Italy's AC
Milan after almost a decade at the club, Arsenal Holdings Plc
said on Monday.
Vinai Venkatesham, currently chief commercial officer,
becomes managing director and will lead the club along with head
of football relations Raul Sanllehi, who was appointed as Head
of Football, the company said.
Sanllehi joined Arsenal last November from Spanish champions
Barcelona, where he had a number of roles including director of
football.
Gazidis' exit comes a month after American billionaire Stan
Kroenke took full control of Arsenal by buying out Russian rival
Alisher Usmanov, valuing the Premier League club at around $2.3
billion.
The club has also just begun its first season in 22 years
without former manager Arsene Wenger at the helm.
Several English newspapers had reported in recent days that
Gazidis was in advanced negotiations to move to Milan. He will
leave the London club with effect from Oct. 31.
Arsenal currently sit seventh in the English Premier League
after a pair of early defeats under new manager Unai Emery, who
joined in the summer from French champions Paris St Germain.