Leeds United chief Angus Kinnear has retired from his role as the Independent Chair of the Board at British Weight Lifting (BWL) to focus on his other ventures, ahead of his scheduled move to Everton as CEO.
Leeds confirmed earlier this month that Kinnear would join the Toffees at the end of the season after eight years with the club, but will first see out the campaign with the Whites. The 47-year-old had overseen United’s initial return to the Premier League in 2020 as well as the takeover of 49ers Enterprises in 2023.
In the interim, the club will now assess their boardroom structure before deciding their next steps. Former FA and Premier League chair Peter McCormick has been brought in as executive vice chairman, though the club have underlined he is not a replacement for Kinnear.
Kinnear, who has also served as a non-Executive Director of Commonwealth Games England, had joined the board of BWL in June 2019, stating he was “a passionate advocate of increasing sporting opportunities for all.”
A statement from the BWL said the body had “achieved significant success both on and off the competition platform” under Kinnear’s stewardship. It added that the progress of the organisation can be outlined by the four medals its lifters attained at last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The statement read: “British Weight Lifting (BWL) has announced the retirement of Angus Kinnear from his role as Independent Chair of the Board. After six years of dedicated service, Angus has decided to step down to focus on other projects including his new role as CEO of Everton Football Club commencing in June 2025.”
Kinnear himself added: “It has been an honour to serve as Chair of this incredible national governing body. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues, witnessing remarkable growth, and contributing to a vision that truly makes a difference to our passionate community.
"As I step down, I do so with immense gratitude and confidence in the future leadership, knowing that the best is yet to come.”
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