Bolton Wanderers announce new CEO

Bolton Wanderers have announced the appointment of David Ray as the Club’s new Chief Executive Officer.

David joins Bolton Wanderers after five years at Plymouth Argyle, where he was a key member of the executive team, contributing to progress across all areas of the club.

Born in Bolton, David returns to his hometown with a personal connection to the Club and a strong desire to play his part in its future. Known for his strategic approach and collaborative leadership style, he brings experience in creating high-performance environments, driving a data-led culture and building strong links between football, business and community.

He has worked closely with local authorities and other key stakeholders to deliver major community-focused projects, something he believes should sit at the heart of any successful football club.

Bolton Wanderers Chairman, Sharon Brittan, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome David Ray to Bolton Wanderers as our new Chief Executive Officer. We undertook an extremely thorough search to find the right individual to lead the Club and David was the standout candidate amongst a very strong field.

“David’s appointment is another key step on the journey we are on as a football club. His financial expertise and proven business acumen, particularly within a football context, align perfectly with our vision and values. We firmly believe in appointing the right people into the right roles to build a sustainable and successful future for Bolton Wanderers.

“David’s arrival follows the important strategic appointment of Fergal Harkin as Sporting Director. Together, David and Fergal further strengthen our senior leadership team under the guidance of myself and the Board.

“David joins us at an exciting time. We are looking forward to an energetic summer as we prepare for the new season, buoyed by the incredible backing of our supporters, with over 15,000 season tickets already purchased. I know David is eager to work with our talented executive team and immerse himself in the BWFC Family.”

David said: “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Bolton Wanderers as CEO. This is a club with a great history and a passionate fanbase and I’m looking forward to playing a key role in this next chapter.

“I’m excited to work with Sharon, the Board, the executive team and all of our staff to take the Club forward together. Everything we do will be about building something sustainable, ambitious and aligned, with the goal of returning Bolton Wanderers to where it belongs.”

David has built strong relationships with sporting directors and head coaches throughout his career, ensuring football departments are supported with clarity, alignment and the right structure to succeed.

David will commence his role as CEO on Wednesday 23 July.