Paul Barber Named New CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion

Paul Barber has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of English league club, Brighton & Hove Albion.

The former FA commercial director and Tottenham Hotspur executive director arrives with a wealth of experience, both from the football and business sectors. He will begin in his new role on 18th June.

Albion chairman Tony Bloom said: “The board’s aim was to bring in a top-class chief executive, and Paul fits that criteria. He has a great deal of high-level experience across a number of sectors, but most importantly has a great CV in terms of football.

“Having worked for the FA, Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, he has excellent knowledge and experience of the commercial, marketing and communications side of the game, here in the UK and overseas.

“Paul also has an extensive network of contacts across the football industry, which will be of great benefit to the club as we strive to progress.”

Barber said: “I am delighted to be joining such an ambitious and well-run club, with such a dedicated owner and board of directors.

“The club has made great progress on and off the pitch, and I am looking forward to expanding on what has already been achieved by the club and its staff in moving from Withdean to the excellent Amex Stadium.”

The 45-year-old spent the past two years as CEO at Vancouver Whitecaps, leading the club’s transition to Major League Soccer, and two stadium moves: first to a temporary home at Empire Field, and then onto the Winter Olympic venue BC Place.

Barber joined the Whitecaps from Spurs in February 2010, having spent five years at White Hart Lane as the club’s executive director.

Prior to his time at Tottenham, he was commercial director and prior to that director of marketing & communications at the FA.

He was a member of the England national team’s official party to the FIFA World Cup in Japan and Korea in 2002 and to the European Championships in 2000 and 2004.

During his time with the FA, he was also responsible for organising England’s fixtures staged around the UK, during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

Barber, who was born, raised and educated in London and is an FA-qualified coach, also spent time as a non-executive director of Hampshire Cricket.