Black Cats KLD appoints four new directors
Sunderland have announced new appointments to the club's board, including Kyril Louis-Dreyfus' twin brother.
MauriceLouis-Dreyfushas been a regular on Wearside since his brother became the club’s majority shareholder, attending the vast majority of games.
The club have also confirmed that Juan Sartori has rejoined he board, with the Uruguayan initially stepping down as a director in February.
Louis-Dreyfus had already moved to strengthen his support network at the club in the immediate aftermath of his takeover, with family lawyer Igor Levin and Louis-Dreyfus Company chief financial officer Patrick Treuer appointed as directors.
Louis-Dreyfus is joined on the club’s board by chief operatingofficer Steve Davis on, and Simon Vumbaca.
Vumba ca is an international lawyer with extensive experience in the sporting world. He represented Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven in their acquisition of the club in 2018.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said: "I am delighted to welcome Juan, Maurice, Simon and Steve to the club’s board of directors.
"This is an exciting period for Sunderland and these appointments represent the culmination of a detailed and thorough process to identify a board that not only respects SAFC’s rich heritage and core values, but also brings the experience, creativity and dynamism required to bring
sustainableandlastingsuccess to the club.”
Alongside Donald and Methven, Sartori retains a shareholding at the club and willnowbeapresenceatboard meetings moving forward.
Sartorihasprovedacontroversial figure in his time at the club, with a growing political careerinUruguarystandingat odds with Madrox's then regular assertions that he would be stepping up his involvement.
Speaking to a Sunderland Supporters' Collective meeting in March, Louis-Dreyfus moved to assure fans that he would be in control of club affairs.
He did add that the Madrox group would 'support the club as much as they can'.
Louis-Dreyfus said: "I would like to address the changing in ownership and the changes in the board.
“While I am the largest shareholder at the club, Stewart[Donald],Juan[Sartori]and Charlie [Methven] will each retain a minority shareholding in the club and will support it as much as they can. I want to assureyou,Ihavetheexecutive control of the club and the majority on the board.
"Since the takeover was announced, we have appointed two new directors: Igor Levin, who is our family’s attorney and used to be a former director at Marseille, and Patrick Treuer, CFO of our family business. Both of them will be joining our already existing directorsTomSloanesandDavid Jones.
"Moving forward we want theboardtobemoreactiveand a valuable support tool for the executive management. We will have regular board meetings going forward.”
Sloanes and Jones, who joined the board as non-executive directors in 2019, remain in their roles.
In the aftermath of Louis-Dreyfus’ arrival, chief executive Jim Rodwell and finance director Angela Lowes both left their posts. The latter has subsequently joined Lancashire County Cricket Club.