The FA has today announced that FA Group commercial director Stuart Turner has decided to leave the organisation after this season’s Emirates FA Cup Final in May 2016.
He will step down after 11 years at The FA where, for the last four years, he has been FA Group commercial director.
Explaining his decision, Turner said: “Having worked 11 years at The FA, which has included four cycles of domestic and overseas broadcast sales and two sponsorship cycles, I feel that it’s time to seek new opportunities across the sports industry.
“Stuart has done much to transform the fortunes of The FA”
FA CEO Martin Glenn on Stuart Turner
“However in the intervening months before I leave The FA, there is much to do in terms of broadcast and sponsorship sales and in helping Martin Glenn and the rest of the Executive develop our new structure, which will do so much to transform football in this country.
"Once we’re through that period I’ll reflect more fully on my time at The FA, but suffice to say that I’m honoured to have served here.”
FA Chief Executive Officer Martin Glenn said: “When Stuart came to see me with his decision, I was naturally disappointed but I fully respect his decision to seek new challenges away from The FA.
"Stuart has done much to transform the fortunes of The FA since he arrived and over £1.5bn in attributable revenue in that time is testament to that.
“We both thought it important however to get the news out early, not least in order that we can find a replacement for Stuart, a process with which he has agreed to help. That process starts now, but in the meantime, Stuart will lead the commercial division and it’s very much business as usual.”
Stuart Turner joined The FA as head of broadcast in September 2004 and went on to become FA Group commercial director in June 2011 and a Wembley National Stadium Limited Director in September 2015.
