Rangers CEO James Bisgrove departs club after five years for Saudi move

Rangers have announced the departure of chief executive James Bisgrove.

The outgoing CEO leaves the club after five years to make a move to Saudi Arabia with John Bennett set to assume the role of executive chairman on an interim basis.

The Ibrox club announced the news on Thursday with an update on their executive structure.

Bennett will lead a team comprising current executives including chief finance officer James Taylor, director of football recruitment Nils Koppen, football operations director Creag Robertson and chief commercial officer, Karim Viran as they prepare to oversee a summer rebuild.

Rangers have won one league title, one Scottish Cup, one League Cup and reached the Europa League final in Bisgrove’s five years at the club.

But it hasn’t been without its difficulties, with the team working with four different full-time managers as city rivals Celtic continued their domestic dominance.

The 39-year-old initially joined Gers as their head of marketing and commercial before being promoted to CEO last summer in the wake of Stewart Robertson’s departure.

Philippe Clement is the most recent recruit when he replaced Michael Beale in October, but despite a promising start and a League Cup final victory, he was unable to stop Celtic winning a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

Bennett has wished Bisgrove well in his new role.

In a statement released from the club he said: “I would like to thank James for the work he has done at the club over the last five years as commercial and marketing director, and latterly, as our CEO.

“Our commercial revenues grew significantly under James’ leadership, while in the last year, he was an integral part of the off-field restructuring the club has implemented.

“The executive team James helped shape has firmly established itself and I fully expect its momentum to be uninterrupted.

“We wish James every success with his new role.”