Liverpool FC have announced 45-year-old business expert Christian Purslow as the club’s new managing director.

It was announced earlier this year that chief-executive Rick Parry is to leave the club this summer after 11 years at Anfield. Purslow will now take over some of his role, although a new CEO is yet to be appointed.

The Liverpool Echo reports Purslow has education from Cambridge and Harvard universities, is a lifelong Liverpool supporter with family coming from the Wirral, and speaks fluent Spanish. The Echo say he has already started liaising with Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

George Gillett discussed the appointment of Purslow saying, “Tom and I felt that it was important to put a highly experienced and respected executive in place to run the club and support the senior team and the manager.

“There’s a lot to get done over the summer to build on the great season we just had and Christian will be a valuable addition to the team.”

Purslow is a season ticket holder at Liverpool and co-founded his own private equity firm, MidOcean Partners. With his local roots, supporter experience and Spanish fluency he ticks all the right boxes on paper. His background in finance also suggests he has a key role in the future of the club.

Speculation surrounds whether Purslow will take up a place on the Club’s Board of Directors, thus placing a Liverpool supporter on the board again following the resignation of David Moores last week.

Welcome to the club, Christian!