Aston Villa parted with president of business operations Chris Heck at the end of the season and his new job has been confirmed
Aston Villa's president of business operations Chris Heck
Aston Villa's president of business operations Chris Heck
(Image: PA)
LIV Golf have confirmed the appointment of Chris Heck as their new president of business operations, after his departure from Aston Villa. Heck spent two years at Villa after the exit of Christian Purslow, and he now takes up a newly created role which carries the same title as what he had at Villa.
Heck joined Villa in 2023 having previously been the president of NBA side Philadelphia 76ers, while he'd also spent time working in the NBA itself and with MLS outfit New York Red Bulls. His parting from Villa was confirmed at the end of April, when the club released a statement signalling his intention to be closer to his family in the States.
It then emerged that Heck would be joining LIV Golf, the international championship of which the format is still relatively new. LIV confirmed this week on their website, when announcing Heck that, during his time had Villa, he had 'more than doubled commercial revenue, contributing to a significant surge in the club’s valuation by nearly 20% in the past two years alone'.
Heck did receive criticism from portions of the fanbase for the pricing strategy after Villa returned to the Champions League last season, with some tickets costing adults almost £100 for a single game. Heck explained at the time that, with PSR in mind, Villa were having to explore other revenue streams in order to fulfil their ambitions.
“Chris Heck brings a commercial mindset, the proven ability to attract, retain and develop talented executives, and a consistent and proven track record of driving exponential growth to the businesses he leads," Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO, said. "These qualities and his approach will continue to move us closer to the extraordinary vision of His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
“Chris’ passion to elevate brands, engage corporate partners, deliver authentic fan and brand engagement with global impact, and a drive towards innovation will ensure we continue on a strong growth trajectory for our league and teams.”
“I am deeply honored to join LIV Golf during this important moment for the league, and to support a global leader in golf devoted to expanding the game’s reach to new communities across the world through the leadership of His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan,” Heck himself added.
"LIV Golf represents a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to redefine the global golf landscape with dynamic athletes, immersive events, and a commitment to growth, accessibility, and innovation."
It's already been confirmed by Villa that Francesco Calvo will be succeeding the outgoing Heck.
How do you reflect on Heck's time at Villa? Have your say HERE
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