The Football Association has recently announced the appointment of Debbie Hewitt MBE as the new non-Executive chair. In response, Dr Geoffery Z. Kohe, Lecturer in Sport Management & Policy in the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences said:
‘Although Hewitt’s appointment as the organisation’s first female Chair in its 157 year history is cause for celebration, it is the extensive leadership experience she brings from a lengthy career within the business sector that represents a significant investment by the FA in its future.
‘Having held similar positions in a range of well-known businesses (including VISA Europe, The Restaurant Group PLC, Moss Bros and White stuff), Hewitt was the FA’s stand out candidate and appears to have the strong backing of the Association and its CEO Mark Bullingham. As she has evidenced well in previous non-executive roles, she is well placed to lead on the broad sweeping and radical changes the FA need.
‘The appointment represents an important step for the FA and its ongoing work within the Association to make progressive changes that help to address some of the significant challenges the game has been presented with.
‘The agenda Hewitt inherits is substantial with not only the persistence of the pandemic. She also must tackle ensuring the sustainability of the sport, improving governance, developing funding strategies to address inequalities (particularly at grassroots level), widening participation and resources, and negotiating wider stakeholder relations (e.g. with the Premier League, the Department for Media, Culture and Sports, corporate and media stakeholders, and the wider public).
‘While Hewitt does not take up the post until January 2022, the FA and football communities across the country should look forward positively to the fresh perspectives (and hopefully changes) the organisation may need, and to also support the extensive and meaningful work it continues to do across the country.’
Dr Geoffery Z. Kohe, Lecturer in Sport Management & Policy, School of Sport & Exercise Sciences.
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