Gould ‘excited’ to be back at City as the club’s new chief executive
BRISTOL City confirmed the appointment of Richard Gould as the club’s new CEO on Friday, with the 51-yearold joining from Surrey Cricket Club.
Gould, the son of former Bristol City player and Rovers manager Bobby Gould, replaces outgoing chief Mark Ashton who ends his five-year time in charge of the Robins’ football operations on May 31.
Gould previously worked as commercial director at Ashton Gate from 2001-2005 and will start work in his new role from midJune.
“I am really excited to be returning to Bristol City and the area. I understand the scale of ambition and also the energy required to fulfil that,” he said. “There is a lot of hard work ahead and I am looking forward to meeting the challenges we face alongside Steve, Jon, Nigel and the rest of the club.”
Gould’s arrival coincides with the release of 11 first-team players from Bristol City’s squad by new manager Nigel Pearson, who was given a three-year contract shortly before the conclusion of the 202021 season.
It begins what’s already becoming a summer of sizeable change at BS3, with Pearson holding considerable control over the football direction of the club as the Ashtonera comes to an end.
As previously reported by the Bristol Post, Gould was consistently one of the frontrunners for the job
at City and his experience in the sports industry and knowledge of the club are notable attributes.
A former tank commander in the British Army, Gould was educated at Bristol Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Cranfield University and Harvard Business School.
“Richard has the right skills and
qualities we need. He has a sport, military and business background, as well as a strong local connection, and we have no doubt he is the right person to lead this club forward,” said chairman Jon Lansdown.
It remains unclear if Gould’s brief will be as wide-ranging as Ashton’s with his predecessor overseeing
the recruitment operation in BS3 along with his day-to-day running of the club.
The indication has been that Pearson will want to work in tandem with a head of recruitment. Aston Villa’s Rob Mackenzie was linked earlier this week but the Bristol Post understands that the 35-year-old is happy at Villa Park.