Chris Heck appointment can help Aston Villa become global brand – Sky Sports journalist
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports and The Athletic’s Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
The appointment of Chris Heck as the new President of Business Operations can help Aston Villa become a global brand, according to Dan Bardell.
Heck brings over 30 years of sports industry experience to the West Midlands, having previously worked with the likes of the Philadelphia 76ers and MLS club New York Red Bulls.
The official Aston Villa website revealed (17 May) that the American would report directly to owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens and has full responsibility for all business and commercial matters.
Edens, who is also the co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, will work closely with Heck across Villa’s pre-season tour as Villa take on Newcastle in Philadelphia in the Premier League Summer Series on 23 July. [Birmingham Mail]
Speaking to Villa News, Bardell admitted that the success of Unai Emery’s work on the pitch, which saw the club qualify for the Europa Conference League last weekend, was accelerating plans off it.
“I think Heck’s appointment will help with the idea of making Villa a global brand,” he said.
“Branding in American sports is really very strong, and hopefully, he can bring his ideas over to Villa now.
“Heck was a massive part of the 76ers success, and it is these people who have worked at the very highest level that Villa are trying to get into the club.
“He might not necessarily be an out-and-out football man, but they’re bringing in a figure with a huge amount of experience and somebody who has worked at the top levels of sport.
“I think it can only be a good thing. I think the owners have always wanted to accelerate things and push them forward to a further point they have been at over the last few years, and I think having Emery there on the football side is only going to accelerate everything else off the field.”
In other Aston Villa news, one academy graduate has picked up an injury which could derail his pre-season plans.