Report by John Edwards

Altrincham are delighted to announce the historic appointment of John Williams as the club's first-ever Chief Executive Officer.

John joins us after emerging as the successful candidate from a field of over 100 applicants for a key position that underlines the club's determination to keep building and progressing in the environment of full-time professional football.

In welcoming him to The J.Davidson Stadium from FC Halifax Town, where he filled a similar role as Commercial Director, Alty Co-Chairman Lawrence Looney outlined the significance of recruiting a proven football administrator to oversee the club's off-field activities and ensure they are aligned with advances made on the pitch under manager Phil Parkinson.

"It has been apparent for a while now that we really do need a CEO to bring all parts of the club together, and we are delighted to announce that John has been appointed," he said. "We started out with 100 or so applicants and managed to whittle that down to 19 before settling on a shortlist of six and then agreeing that John was the outstanding candidate.

"It was an exhaustive, rigorous process, but so it should be for such an important appointment. We had to be sure of getting it right, and we are. In John, we have someone who has built a reputation for commercial expertise in football over the course of 15 years and has more recently enhanced his standing  at a similar-sized club to ours with similar challenges.

"It is a big milestone for us, and we are looking forward to changing the structure of the club and becoming more professional in how we do things off the field. It is the next stage in our off-field development, and there's no doubt it is a major one.

"He will bring together all our off-field resources, look at key areas that need improving, such as the matchday experience for everyone attending games, and support the directors in delivering our strategy.

"There is a lot that needs addressing, but that is why we have created this new role and appointed John. He gets things done, and we are delighted to have him on board."

As he prepared to cross the Pennines from West Yorkshire, after a highly-successful two years at The Shay, our new Chief Executive said: "It's a privilege to be named as new and first CEO of Altrincham Football Club, and I am absolutely delighted and very grateful to be given the opportunity.

"I look forward to working with the Board and getting started at the Club on a day-to-day basis, meeting the team and helping to shape and develop our next chapter.

"With hard work, commitment and the continued support of our stakeholders, supporters and local businesses, I am sure that our future will look even brighter."

John arrived at The Shay to run Halifax's off-field operations in June 2021 after forging a reputation for business and commercial acumen in a seven-year stint at Huddersfield Town that included two years in the Premier League, during which his input helped establish the Terriers as the business hub of the local community.

A warm welcome to Altrincham FC, John, and we all wish you every success in helping the club to keep moving forward.