West Ham United have confirmed a significant restructuring at board level following the sudden departure of Karren Brady, with the club now operating under an unusual three-way chairman model involving David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky, and Vanessa Gold.
Brady’s exit last week triggered immediate speculation among supporters about who would take control of key decisions at the London Stadium, especially after a period of unrest surrounding the club’s ownership direction and long-term strategy.
Before stepping down, Brady’s final major involvement included overseeing the partial sale of shares from the Gold family to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, a move that further reshaped the balance of power among the club’s major stakeholders.
That development initially fuelled talk that Kretinsky could be positioning himself for a full takeover, having already acquired a 27 per cent stake in the club back in 2021 for around £150 million. However, David Sullivan has since moved to reinforce his position, reportedly increasing his own shareholding rather than reducing it.
As a result, the ownership structure has become increasingly complex, with Sullivan and Kretinsky now holding comparable influence, while Vanessa Gold also retains a significant stake following the wider restructuring of the Gold family’s involvement.
In an official statement, West Ham confirmed that Sullivan, Kretinsky, and Gold will now operate as joint chairpersons of the club, effectively replacing the traditional single-chair model previously overseen by Sullivan and the late David Gold.
To add further clarity to the club’s leadership structure, Karim Virani has been appointed as interim chief executive. Virani will take over day-to-day operational control, a role previously held in part by Brady during her time as vice-chair.
Despite this clarification, questions remain over how decision-making will function at the top of the club, particularly given the overlapping influence of three major stakeholders with significant financial and strategic interests.
Reports have also suggested internal tensions behind the scenes, with differing views emerging over recruitment policy and long-term planning. However, the club’s ownership group insists the new structure is designed to ensure stability following a period of transition.
The changes come at a time when West Ham continue to navigate both on-field and off-field challenges, with supporters closely watching how the revised leadership model will impact the club’s future direction.
For now, the Hammers enter a new era with an unprecedented three-chairman system—one that could either bring balance to the boardroom or further complicate the power dynamics at the club.
