New Burnley chairman reveals identity of two new board members

New Burnley chairman Alan Pace has named two new members of the board of directors.
Dave CheckettsDave Checketts
Dave Checketts

As previously reported, outgoing chairman Mike Garlick and former co-chairman John Banaszkiewicz will stay on as directors after ALK Capital's takeover of the club, and they will be joined by Dave Checketts and Antonio Dávila, while ALK Capital partners Mike Smith and Stuart Hunt will also take seats on the board,

Checketts is the former CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company and president of the New York Knicks, and will join the board of directors in June after completing a three-year term of service as President of the LDS Church's London mission.

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A leading figure in sport and entertainment for nearly four decades, Checketts brings a wealth of experience as in growing successful sports franchises, stadia and hospitality business to Burnley.

Prof. Antonio DávilaProf. Antonio Dávila
Prof. Antonio Dávila

At 28, Checketts became President and General Manager of the Utah Jazz, making him the youngest Chief Executive in NBA history. He then spent a year as the General Manager of NBA International, where he worked to increase the league's presence around the world, before joining the New York Knicks in March 1991 as President, overseeing a period where the team set records for attendance, television ratings and revenue.

He went on to become President and CEO of Madison Square Garden, overseeing all venues, sports franchises and media properties owned by the group, before starting his own firm SCP Worldwide in 2001, an owner of sports and entertainment properties. In July 2004, SCP established Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake and later installed Alan Pace as the club’s President and CEO, with the club going on to win the 2009 MLS Cup. Most recently Checketts has invested in hospitality, entertainment and media companies through the private equity funds he manages and is an investor in ALK Capital.

Prof. Antonio Dávila also holds a personal connection to the Burnley chairman, as a senior academic at IESE Business School in Barcelona, where Pace gained a master’s degree in international finance. A global authority on the growth of start-ups, innovation and sports management, Dávila has worked as a consultant to UEFA, supporting the organisation’s Certificate in Football Management diploma. He has a doctorate from Harvard Business School and has taught at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Harvard Business School.

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Pace said: “I am delighted to welcome Dave Checketts and Antonio Dávila to the board at Burnley Football Club, as we establish a strong leadership team to accelerate Burnley’s growth and continue the club’s long-term financial stability.

“Having known both individuals for many years, I know the immense value and expertise they will bring to our organisation and the wider business of Premier League football. I look forward to welcoming them to Turf Moor.”

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