Sunderland women appoint FA's James Gray as CEO

Sunderland women's team has appointed James Gray as their chief executive officer, following the recent takeover by Bay Collective. Gray, who currently serves as commercial director at the Football Association, will begin his role in September.

Gray's role and responsibilities

As CEO, Gray will lead Sunderland's strategic and commercial performance, strive for financial sustainability, and head up football operations. He will be reunited with former FA colleagues Kay Cossington and Anja van Ginhoven. Cossington is CEO of Bay Collective, which also holds a majority stake in Bay FC in the United States, with Van Ginhoven serving as the group's director of global operations.

Gray's background and experience

Gray has worked in sport for over 25 years. During his time at the FA, he oversaw commercial operations in the women's game, including the Women's FA Cup. He previously held roles at Barclays, Amazon, Disney, and Manchester United.

Quote from Gray

"I am incredibly proud and excited to be joining Sunderland at such an important moment in the club's journey," said Gray. "Women's football has never had greater momentum, and Sunderland has an incredible history, passionate supporters and enormous potential. Success on the pitch and sustainability off it go hand in hand. Together, we will create an ambitious, high-performing organisation that can compete at the highest level while remaining true to the values that make this club so special. I am deeply grateful to the FA for a rewarding chapter in my career. My immediate priority is to ensure a seamless transition that leaves the organisation in the strongest possible position before I begin this exciting next chapter with Sunderland."

Recent developments at Sunderland

Last week, former West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner, 46, was named as Sunderland women's new technical director. Skinner has vast experience in the women's game, having held assistant managerial roles at both England and Wales. Bay Collective completed its takeover of Sunderland's women's team last month, acquiring a majority stake. Sunderland, a former top-flight side whose ex-players include Beth Mead, Steph Houghton, and Lucy Bronze, finished eighth in the WSL 2 last season.