The consortium looking to complete a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday have a CEO lined-up ahead of his departure from Premier League side Sunderland, The Star understands.
Departing Sunderland business chief David Bruce is all lined-up to become CEO of Sheffield Wednesday should the club go on to be taken over by Arise Capital Partners, The Star understands.
The US consortium, led by David Storch, is hopeful of taking the keys to the club with a target date of May 1 and has been busy laying the foundations with plans for club ranging from kit offerings to vital facility improvements to the building of its senior figures.
As reported by The Star earlier this month, the group have a CEO lined-up and following reports of interest by The Wednesday Word, it is our understanding that a deal to bring Bruce to the club is all but agreed in principle. Bruce is understood to have already spent some time in Sheffield, which is believed to have coincided with David Storch’s latest visit to the city.
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Back in March, Bruce was announced to be leaving his role at Sunderland at the end of the current season having joined his boyhood club in the summer of 2023. He is said to have played an important off-field role in the development of the Black Cats’ off-field activity in a period that saw them promoted to the Premier League and as part of Sunderland’s announcement was thanked for securing a host of ‘landmark partnerships’ with major brands.
Before his move to Sunderland, Bruce previously spent over a decade working in for the the MLS in the US and held the role of chief marketing officer for the ever-expanding league. During his time at the Stadium of Light Bruce was praised for his efforts in promoting positive fan engagement, a major goal of Arise.
Despite ongoing discussion over the sporting sanctions set to be placed on the club next season, sources have maintained a confidence that Arise will go on to complete their takeover of Wednesday. In that event, barring something unexpected, Bruce will become the club’s CEO and act on the board.
As previously reported, the club are also going about sounding-out candidates for the role of sporting director, which would oversee the football side of the club. The Star is of the understanding that handful of candidates have been to but as of yet has no clear direction on who will land the role.
The expected appointment - and that of a sporting director - will be seen as a positive step for a club that was criticised for its lack of c-suite and board during Dejphon Chansiri’s time as Owls chairman.
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