By Andrew Warshaw
August 30 – UEFA has appointed from within and chosen David Farrelly to become its new head of communications.
Farrelly, who has been with European football’s governing body for 15 years, has run its website in recent years and, in his new role, will report directly to general secretary Gianni Infantino.
The 38-year-old Irishman’s appointment follows the surprise departures of Robert Faulkner, the multi-lingual head of media services, and director of communications Alexandre Fourtoy, both of whom stepped down last month amid unconfirmed rumours that UEFA President Michel Platini wanted to implement a new communications strategy.
His new position is expected to embrace the merged responsibilities of Faulkner and Fourtoy as well as his ongoing control of the organisation’s digital services and publications, although full details have yet to be released.
Significantly, the communications department will now be incorporated within the President and Executive Office.
The savvy and approachable Farrelly, whose background is in newspaper journalism, was appointed as UEFA’s internet editor in 1997 and rose through the ranks to become head of online and publishing.
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