Jack Sullivan (executive)

Jack Sullivan (born November 1999) is a British sports executive who is currently a director at West Ham United.

Jack Sullivan
BornNovember 1999 (age 23)[1]
NationalityBritish
TitleDirector of West Ham United (2021–present)

Social media and journalism

Sullivan first came to public attention following his controversial use of Twitter to discuss West Ham United's club affairs and transfers.[2] In 2013, commenting on the signing of Marouane Chamakh, Sullivan wrote "I am very sorry about this news Chamakh has sign a 6 month loan deal! not my pick :(".[3] In 2015, Sullivan posted a picture of West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce laughing in a tweet mocking West Ham rivals, Millwall following their relegation to League One.[4]

Sullivan was criticised by Graeme Souness for his use of Twitter. Souness wrote in The Times that the use of Twitter to criticise the manager’s selections, substitutions and signings was unacceptable.[5] Former West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, blamed owner David Sullivan for giving the information to his son and for allowing him to tweet it.[6]

Sullivan also wrote a column called The Insider on West Ham's website. This discussed transfer targets and fees and was pulled from the club's official website on the orders of West Ham's managing director, Karren Brady after she had been inundated with complaints from supporters.[7]

Following this Sullivan was engaged by The Sun tabloid newspaper to write a twice monthly column.[7]

West Ham United Women

Sullivan was appointed by his father as managing director of West Ham United Women in 2017, having been involved with the women's team since leaving school in 2016 aged 16.[8] Appointed to the role by his father, West Ham United owner David Sullivan, at age 17, Jack Sullivan was believed to be the youngest executive in English football history at the time of his appointment.[9] In Sullivan's first year, he led an application to advance the club from the part-time third division to the Women's Super League; it was West Ham's first appearance in the top competition.[10] In 2018 he was the subject of a BBC Three programme, Britain's Youngest Football Boss, focusing on his running of the club and on the lives of female footballers.[11] The programme was later shown on BBC One after Match of the Day, achieving viewing figures of 1.3 million.[12] He stepped down in May 2021.[13]

West Ham United

In November 2021, following Daniel Křetínský's purchase of 27% of shares at the club, Sullivan was appointed as a director at West Ham United.[14]

Personal life

Sullivan attended Chigwell School.[15] He has dyslexia.[8] In the Sunday Times Rich List, produced in May 2020, Sullivan was listed as the third richest person aged under 30 in the UK.[16]

References
  1. "Jack Harry Frank SULLIVAN". Companies House. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Jack Sullivan: West Ham unlikely to do any deals". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. "West Ham sign Marouane Chamakh - to the dismay of owner's son". 4 January 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  4. "West Ham owner's son mocks relegated Millwall on Twitter". 29 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  5. Mondal, Subhankar (8 October 2017). "Graeme Souness outlines what he finds unacceptable at West Ham". Here Is The City. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. "Sam Allardyce slams 'disgusting' West Ham leak and criticises Jack Sullivan". 9 November 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. Lucas, Damien (13 April 2017). "'Embarrassing' - West Ham fans react to Jack Sullivan writing about the club in national newspaper". Here Is The City. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. "Now there are two Sullivans with big plans for West Ham". Evening Standard. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  9. "Jack Sullivan: West Ham managing director steps down". BBC Sport. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  10. "Sullivan leads West Ham revolution". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  11. Mapstone, Lucy (17 November 2018). "BBC Three documentary to follow West Ham Ladies' teenage boss". Newham Recorder. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  12. "Sullivan in the spotlight as West Ham prepare for Wembley showpiece". BT.com. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  13. "West Ham United Women's Managing Director Jack Sullivan to step down after four years of unprecedented growth". West Ham United. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  14. "David Sullivan appoints sons to West Ham board amid reshuffle after arrival of billionaire Daniel Kretinsky". Evening Standard. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  15. Rashty, Sandy (25 March 2013). "Boys battle racism in football". The Jewish Chronicle.
  16. "Inventor Sir James Dyson tops UK Rich List". BBC News. May 17, 2020.
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