**Everton have announced several key appointments in their summer overhaul.**
Club owners The Friedkin Group are undertaking a strategic rebuild of their football operations structure after moving from the director of football model.
A more collegiate approach will see specialists in technical development, data analytics and player trading all contributing to the club’s evolutionary process.
In line with the new model, the Blues confirmed four of those positions on Friday with Nick Cox, James Smith, Chris Howarth and Nick Hammond.
Cox arrives from Manchester United where he became academy director since 2019, having previously joined as head of academy operations in 2016.
Joining the new technical director in making the move from Manchester is Smith, who will become the club’s director of scouting and recruitment.
He spent a decade at Everton before joining United and latterly oversaw scouting and recruitment for Manchester City’s owners City Football Group.
New player trading lead Hammond recently served as a transfer consultant at both Leeds United and Newcastle in an impressive post-playing career.
Howarth, meanwhile, will steer football strategy and analytics operations after working with 14 European clubs through his Insight Sport data consultancy.
His arrival at Hill Dickinson Stadium coincides with the Friedkins acquring Insight Sport to utilise its analytical capabilities in Everton’s development.
The quartet are set to work alongside CEO Angus Kinnear, David Moyes and Everton Women boss Brian Sorensen in efforts to deliver on-field success.
“I’m delighted with the appointments of Nick, James and Nick,” said Kinnear.
“Their CVs speak for themselves – they are exceptional operators, hugely respected in the game and an example of the ambition we hold as a club in ensuring the pathways and structures in place across our football operations are of the very highest standard.
“The fact we had such exceptional candidates for these positions is also a reflection of the direction of the club.
“I’m equally delighted by our appointment of Chris and ownership’s strategic acquisition of Insight Sport, which is a further sign of our ownership’s ambition for Everton and I believe step-changes our analytics capability and will deliver us a long-term competitive advantage.
“The new football leadership structure will ensure our two managers have the very best support, and the very best operators driving the key football operations, to ensure our collective ambitions are realised.”