BRUCE GONE

Chief Business Officer David Bruce will leave the Club at the end of the season following a broader organisational restructure. Tom Burwell, Chief Executive Officer of Bia Sports Group, assumes the role of interim CEO with immediate effect. Tom currently serves on the Club’s Board of Directors and will provide temporary executive oversight on behalf of the Board as recruitment of a permanent CEO progresses.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus: “David has made an important contribution to Sunderland AFC, and I want to thank him for the commitment he has shown throughout his time with us. His connection to Sunderland is profound, and that has been reflected in the care, dedication, and energy he has brought to the role. He should be immensely proud of the part he has played in helping move the Club forward. As our leadership structure evolves to reflect our continued growth in the Premier League, we will now appoint a permanent Chief Executive Officer to help consolidate and build on the progress we have made. During the interim period, Tom will step into this role, having already played an active part in our transition to the Premier League. His leadership will ensure continuity and keep us firmly focused on the path ahead.”

David Bruce: “To have had the chance to play a part in the story of my boyhood Club has been a privilege I will carry with me forever. Every decision, every late night and every challenge was driven by one thing - a desire to see Sunderland AFC become everything this Club, its supporters and this city deserve. In a short space of time, we have taken meaningful strides: growing our reach, building a commercial platform that gives the Club greater strength and stability, and working to create an experience that reflects the passion of our supporters. More than anything, I hope we have helped reconnect the Club with the people who define it and the city to which it belongs. I leave proud of what we have built, grateful for the people I have worked alongside, and certain that the Club can reach even greater heights. I did not come here simply as an executive, but as a Sunderland lad who grew up loving this Club - and that is how I will always see myself. A supporter first, last and always.”