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Hutchinson, who joined the FA following the departure of long-serving biz dev chief Jim Frayling, will step down at the end of the year
By Jon Chapple on 23 Sep 2017
Hutchinson (right) with Wembley's Liam Boylan and Danielle Russell in February
Gary Hutchinson is to leave his position as head of venue sales and commercial partnerships at Wembley Stadium.
The former Sunderland AFC exec joined the UK’s largest stadium earlier this year, effectively replacing its ex-head of business development, Jim Frayling. He will leave the FA, the venue’s owner, at the end of 2017 to run a private hospitality venture, Chrysalis Leisure Group.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the FA, and I’m committed to supporting the organisation over the next few months, until they have plans in place to take [membership organisation] Club Wembley forward in the new year,” he says.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the FA and I’m committed to supporting the organisation over the next few months”
“However, I have been pursuing a new business venture for the last few months, and it has very quickly moved from being just a concept to something I am ready to push the button on and turn into a reality. It’s moving ahead rapidly, and I am sure it will continue to develop quickly.”
The Sun FM radio station reports Hutchinson has taken over the Fat Buddha restaurant in Newcastle, which he plans to transform into a “must-visit Tyneside venue”.
A spokesman for the FA tells IQ Danielle Russell, the stadium’s partnership development manager for music and new events, will continue to be the key contact for live music, while her colleague James Taylor supports sporting events.
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