September 15: Arsenal have appointed Omar Shaikh as their first chief revenue officer, joining the executive team with a brief partnership, corporate, commercial and retail.
Shaikh arrived in 2023 to lead the growth of the associations, then took over the operation of the wider associations and companies in 2024, and the club credits him with a major role in the evolution of the commercial business since then.
The club’s announcement said Shaikh “will help drive revenue growth that supports our ambition to win major trophies, while keeping fans at the heart of everything we do.”
What “first CRO” really means is that revenue functions that were once scattered across different offices now report through one seat at the executive level. And that matters on the pitch, even if indirectly. Mikel Arteta’s contract talks, summer spending on Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa and any January move for a forward all hinge on what the commercial side can generate. Even a title-winning club has to fund Champions League wages.
The obvious tension is already there in the comments under the announcement on social media, with fans calling for growth that also keeps tickets affordable.