Former Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold has taken his first job since stepping down in November 2023, leaving the world of football entirely.
Arnold, who replaced Ed Woodward as the man in charge of United's day-to-day operations in February 2022, has now joined Norton Motorcycles in a senior commercial role.
“I look forward to using my experience to help Norton expand its future opportunities,” the 53-year-old said of his move to the British company, which was first established in 1898.
Arnold spent 16 years at Old Trafford. Having first met Woodward when both were students at the University of Bristol in the early 1990s, he joined United in 2007 after almost 15 years as a senior executive at several major businesses.
The qualified accountant was initially the group's commercial director and later managed the group's business operations in 2013 as the group's managing director. It was in the latter role that he was credited with overseeing various major sponsorships and partnerships with the likes of adidas and Chevrolet.
Arnold took over as chief executive during a tumultuous time at United and met a group of fans in his local pub in June 2022 after they had initially intended to protest outside his home.
His strengths ended up being on the commercial side and he preferred to pass on to others who he thought had more experience when it came to football operations. But his handling of Mason Greenwood's case last summer, when United were aiming to bring the striker back to the club until a major dispute erupted, was heavily criticised.
Arnold left his position at United less than a year after the Glazer family announced their intention to consider “alternatives”, at which time Sir Jim Ratcliffe was set to close his takeover. Patrick Stewart was tasked with replacing him on an interim basis, while Omar Berrada was named in January as the long-term CEO.
On gardening leave from his role as chief football officer of City Football Group, Manchester City's flagship club, Berrada will start work on July 13.
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