Manchester United has hired Marc Armstrong as Chief Business Officer as the club looks to cut spending and increase revenues.
As part of his new role, Armstrong will work under CEO Omar Berrada, who oversees the commercial and football side of Manchester United. The new appointment will leverage his extensive experience in managing day-to-day commercial operations.
Armstrong has joined the Premier League club after serving as PSG‘s financial strategy director since 2022. Before his time in France, the British businessman held a key role at the Football Association (FA) as head of business development until 2007.
Additionally, he has worked with TEAM Marketing in Switzerland, collaborating closely with UEFA. In 2012, Armstrong moved to the US to become VP of marketing partnerships for the NBA.
According to The Athletic, this appointment follows lengthy negotiations with PSG and Armstrong is set to start work at Manchester United within weeks.
Pressure to get it right
There is always pressure when joining a club the size of Manchester United, but for Armstrong, several internal and external factors may add to this challenge.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO of INEOS, acquired a 27.7% stake in the club for approximately £1.2bn in 2023, committing to invest $300m (£237m) as part of the deal. This was further boosted last December when the billionaire injected an additional £79m into the club, increasing his ownership stake and transferring shares from himself to INEOS.
Before Ratcliffe’s investment, United supporters frequently protested against the Glazer family, the club’s majority owners, amid declining on-pitch success and growing concerns over the club’s compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Since taking over, Ratcliffe’s tenure has been met with mixed reactions. His cost-cutting measures have included staff redundancies and reduced bonuses, while his high-profile hires have also drawn scrutiny. Notably, Sporting Director Dan Ashworth left the club just five months after a lengthy and expensive process to bring him in from Newcastle United.
With this in mind, Armstrong steps into a role under significant scrutiny, tasked with reducing costs and increasing revenue.
Externally, INEOS has also faced challenges. Earlier this month, New Zealand Rugby accused the company of failing to pay the first instalment of its 2025 sponsorship fee under a six-year agreement.
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has also made headlines in the sailing world. Having supported Ben Ainslie’s team through the last two America’s Cups – investing around £200m – he initially stated in an interview with The Telegraph that this backing would continue.
However, last month, reports surfaced that he had reversed this decision, raising questions about whether this signals a more concentrated focus on Manchester United or potential financial concerns.
