A week ago today, Goodison Park paid tribute to Bill Kenwright, with his daughter Lucy and partner Jenny Seagrove both laying wreaths in the centre circle alongside the long-serving chairman’s great friend and Everton legend Joe Royle.
It was a touching moment as all four sides of the ground rose to the strains of Elton John’s 'I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues' to honour the memory of the lifelong Evertonian who had died on October 23 at the age of 78 after battling liver cancer. Kenwright’s passing marked the end of an era at Everton – he had been a board member since 1989 – and given all the changes that have been occurring among Goodison’s corridors of power this year, (chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp all left their roles in June) particular attention was focused on the personnel within the directors’ box.
Here’s a rundown of the faces (right to left) who were pictured on the front row of the directors’ box where Kenwright would until recently watch Everton home matches for over three decades (his friend David Dein, the former Arsenal chairman, was also pictured in the row behind).
Farhad Moshiri
Moshiri was attending his first game at Goodison Park for over two years having stayed away since the 5-2 capitulation to Watford under Rafael Benitez on October 23, 2021, despite going to a couple of Everton matches at West Ham United in between including the 1-0 win three days earlier. This was the first time the club’s majority shareholder had watched the team on home turf since announcing the deal to sell his entire 94.1% stake to 777 Partners on September 15.
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Colin Chong
A construction industry specialist with more than 35 years’ experience in the development sector, he has been Everton’s chief stadium development officer since August 2018, focussing on delivering the club’s future home at Bramley-Moore Dock having also worked on behalf of the Blues with the build of Goodison Park’s Park End stand in 1994. In June this year he also stepped up to become Everton’s interim chief executive officer.
David Gilbery
The chief executive officer of BKStudios, Kenwright’s London-based film and television production and financing company established in September 2021, specialising in commercially driven content for global audiences. Prior to taking up his current post he was the CEO of Media Finance Capital, a debt financing company in partnership with Sir Lloyd Dorfman.
Kevin Thelwell
Everton’s third director of football under Moshiri following Steve Walsh and Marcel Brands. Thelwell joined the Blues from Major League Soccer outfit New York Red Bulls in February 2022, he previously had a stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers for almost 12 years between 2008-20 working as academy manager, head of football development and recruitment and then sporting director.
Josh Wander
One of two managing partners of 777 Partners alongside Steven Pasko who previously joined him for a first visit to Goodison Park on September 30 when Everton lost 2-1 to Luton Town. The pair co-founded the firm in 2015 as part of the management buyout of SuttonPark Capital from PennantPark and Wander directs strategy and investment at 777, chairing the board’s investment committee.
Don Dransfield
Chief executive officer at 777 Football Group. He has accumulated 20 years’ experience across sport, media, and private equity, first at Boston Consulting Group and more recently with Manchester City and City Football Group.
John Spellman
An Everton supporter since boyhood, the non-executive director at the club since June 23 is a chartered accountant with decades of experience working in the energy sector, both in the Canadian oil and gas industry and in UK energy supply. He has held roles including chief executive and finance director and has previously sought to help underperforming companies work on exploiting untapped potential.
James Maryniak
Everton’s director of finance, he was appointed interim chief finance officer in June. Although this meant he took up additional responsibilities left by Ingles’ departure earlier that month, unlike his predecessor, he has not taken up a position on the board.
