Glenn, 54, is a veteran of industry and has built up a reputation for making well-loved British brands more dynamic, competitive and international in their reach.
He will join The FA on 18 May, leaving his current role as CEO at United Biscuits, a £1bn company which is home to the McVitie’s and Jacobs brands and with a rapidly growing international division.
He came to prominence during his time at Walkers Snack Foods in 1992, enlisting England’s second greatest goal scorer of all time, Gary Lineker, to play a key promotional role in his marketing campaigns.
"I am incredibly proud to have been chosen to play my part in shaping the future direction of The FA"
Martin Glenn, CEO of The FA
Having increased Walkers’ market share from the mid-20s to more than 60%, he became company President in 1998 and ran the business till 2006, when he left to join Birdseye, which had been acquired from Unilever for £1.2bn.
In 2003, he was awarded Marketing Week’s CEO of the Year, and in 2004 was voted the UK’s most influential marketer by Marketing Magazine.
An FA qualified grassroots coach, Glenn is also a former Leicester City FC non-executive Director, having sat on the Club’s Board between 2002-2006.
Glenn, a Wolverhampton Wanderers FC supporter, said: “I am incredibly proud to have been chosen to play my part in shaping the future direction of The FA. There are few more important and interesting places to work than Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park and I am very much looking forward to meeting the staff and leading them into an exciting new period.
“I have coached football at grassroots level, have sat on the Board of a Premier League football club and have spent my time on the terraces at Molineux where I have a season ticket. I hope this informs my work at The FA as we look to inspire everyone to be involved in what is the nation’s most watched and played team sport.
“I very much hope my personal experience of operating in highly competitive global markets will help The FA in its own drive to promote greater success for our all of our national teams in international tournaments.”
"I know, as a football fan, he will take great pride in the job and he will be an asset to The FA"
Greg Dyke, FA Chairman
FA Chairman Greg Dyke added: “On behalf of The FA Board I am delighted with the appointment of Martin Glenn as Chief Executive Officer of The Football Association. He brings with him a wealth of experience as a CEO to what is an extremely important role in English football, and he will play a key part in helping us shape and deliver our new strategic priorities for the years ahead.
“I know, as a football fan, he will take great pride in the job and he will be an asset to The FA and will lead the organisation through a significant period of change.
“Martin came through a highly competitive process, and we are delighted that he has chosen to join us. He is a natural leader and I look forward to working with him.”
Glenn has also worked for Cadbury Schweppes, Mars and Deloitte, and is President of the Marketing Society, having started a two-year term in January 2014.
