Karren Brady has resigned as West Ham United’s vice-chairman after 16 years at the club, with Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky poised to increase his stake and match fellow owner David Sullivan’s control. Sullivan, however, has no plans to follow his longtime ally out of the door, despite fan protests and the club’s precarious Premier League position.
The departure was announced on Tuesday, sparking a day of boardroom changes at the London Stadium. It emerged that Sullivan and Kretinsky have lined up deals to buy portions of the Gold family’s 25.1% stake, following the death of David Gold in January 2023. Both are expected to own more than 40% of the club, with neither seeking a majority shareholding. Kretinsky, now described as joint-chair, will gain greater influence after buying a significant portion of the Gold shares.
Brady, 57, said she wanted to focus on her television career and work in the House of Lords. She was a pioneering figure in football, one of the first women to break into the male-dominated industry, and played a key role in West Ham’s move from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016. The highlight of her tenure was the club’s Europa Conference League triumph in 2023.
Her exit was followed by further departures: chief finance officer Andy Mollett will leave at the end of the season, and executive director Nathan Thompson has stepped down with immediate effect. Kretinsky is expected to help identify recruits for those roles. Club insiders expressed surprise at Brady’s departure, though speculation had grown after the exit of her right-hand woman, Tara Warren, in December.
West Ham, currently 17th in the Premier League with five games remaining, faces a potential relegation battle. The club made a loss of £104.2 million in the last financial year and may need to sell key players this summer. Fans have accused the board of mismanagement, with many targeting Brady and Sullivan in “No More BS” campaigns. Sullivan’s sons Jack and Dave Jr hold positions at the club and have become increasingly influential.
