Hibernian appoint Kensell as new chief executive at Easter Road

Hibernian have announced the appointment of Ben Kensell as the club’s new chief executive.

Kensell has joined the Easter Road side as successor to Leeann Dempster, who left the club last year and took up a new role at Queen’s Park.

The Englishman had previously been working as chief operating officer at Norwich City since 2018, and held commercial positions with Arsenal and Charlton.

Hibernian hope that the appointment, which the club described as “exciting and ambitious”, will be key to progress on and off the park.

Club chairman Ron Gordon said: “I am delighted to make this announcement. Supporters know we have taken our time to get the right person, and once available to us, Ben was absolutely the outstanding candidate. I am very confident he will do a fantastic job in leading our plans to take Hibernian to the next level.

“Ben brings tremendous expertise in our industry, commercial nous and experience, superb contacts and a tremendous work ethic with a track record of delivering tangible success across many areas of the club. I very much look to supporting Ben as he takes us forward.

“I am sure that once he settles into the role, he will see that Hibernian is a very special club with great people, a fantastic support, a history that any club would be proud of – and an exciting future ahead of it.”

Kensell said: “I spent seven happy and successful years at Norwich, and it was not an easy decision to leave after securing promotion again with the club in a stable and settled place post-covid.

“However, I was ready for a new challenge and as soon as I was made aware of the opportunity at Hibernian I knew it was where I wanted be. To lead this incredible club as CEO, with the phenomenal support and passionate fanbase it has, along with the ambitious plans that Ron shared with me, it was exciting from the moment we met.

“Hibernian is an historic club, with real tradition and tremendous potential for even greater success in the future. It’s our job to ensure we take it to that next level. I am incredibly honoured to be given the opportunity and will work relentlessly to ensure we can be the best we can be.

“I look forward to working with the teams at Hibernian Training Centre and Easter Road to deliver real success with everyone pulling together in the same direction.

“It’s also important to have a positive, open and collaborative relationship with the fans and I think that the future at Easter Road looks very bright. I can’t wait to hear the famous Sunshine on Leith sung by the supporters once we can get full capacities in attendance.”

Hibernian finished in third place in the Premiership last season, reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and were beaten Scottish Cup finalists.