Appointing a CEO - "Ex-ABC Loan Sister Club" Derby County Appoint Prominent CEO

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News that Derby County have appointed former Chelsea CEO, Trevor Birch as Derby's new CEO has a certain additional interest:Given that until recently, QPR and Derby were the two beneficiaries/recipients/ victims of multi-million pound loans from the Derby's new CEO ">mysterious ABC lenders. Off-the-field, Derby refinanced their ABC Loan with local investors - and of course, on the field they won promotion, last season through the playoffs.
Derby's Announcement: June 12 TREVOR BIRCH JOINS RAMS
".... appointment of Trevor Birch as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and new member of the Board of Directors.
He will start his employment with immediate effect and replaces Mike Horton, the vice-chairman, who last week decided not to continue in the role of managing director.
Trevor is an experienced football man having started his career as a professional footballer before going on to a successful career as a partner with one of the world's biggest business advisory firms. In recent years he returned to the game as CEO of Chelsea and followed that with roles at Leeds United and Everton.
His appointment, together with new management hires in the commercial, operations and finance departments, completes a transformation of the administration team off the field at Derby.
Trevor Birch said: "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to join Derby at such an exciting time in its history. I very much look forward to playing my role in moving the club forward and helping the Manager and Board of Directors fulfil their ambition in realising the club's true potential."
Rams Chairman Peter Gadsby said: "Trevor earned a great reputation when he was last in the game and we are delighted that someone with his experience and understanding of football in general and the Premiership in particular has agreed to join us on the Board of Directors.
"We have big plans and ambition for the club and Trevor's appointment together with other senior personnel changes in operation, finance and commercial is another step along the way to making Derby a major force in the football world once again." Derby's new CEO

QPR however, over the past couple of years, under Chairman Gianni Paladini have chosen to operate mostly without a CEO (de facto or de jure). In September 2005, then CEO Mark Devlin was removed by the Board as part of a change which also saw current Chairman Paladini replaced then Chairman Bill Power. Paladini has since then, basically operated as the CEO and spoke of the money saved by doing without CEO. For three short months, last season, QPR had a Chief Operating Officer, Graham Mackrell. Mackrell was appointed in August last year. His departure was announced in November.

Of course, in this respect, Derby are seemingly the norm as most clubs, seem to operate with a CEO (whatever the official title).