- Mail Sport understands Toby Craig will take on key role at Manchester United
- Craig previously worked alongside Omar Berrada at Manchester City.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made another significant change as he continues to transform Manchester United’s off-field operation.
Mail Sport understands that former Chelsea and Manchester City player Toby Craig will become Old Trafford’s new communications director.
Craig, who worked under incoming chief executive Omar Berrada at the Etihad Stadium, will replace the outgoing Ellie Norman.
Norman joined United from Formula One in September 2022 and will now take gardening leave before taking up a new role outside the club in October.
Although the job title remains the same, it is believed that the position has been substantially modified. While Norman has also been tasked with marketing, branding, content and fan engagement, Craig’s focus is likely to revolve around communications and public affairs.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made another big change behind the scenes at Manchester United
United will bring in Toby Craig as their new communications director, someone who previously worked under incoming chief executive Omar Berrada (pictured) at Manchester City.
The move coincides with INEOS’ drive to ensure football and what happens on the pitch is the priority under its watch.
United’s plans to build a new Old Trafford or renovate the existing stadium are also likely to play a major role in reshaping the position.
The news was relayed to United staff this morning (TUE). It is the latest development since Ratcliffe and INEOS took a 25 per cent stake in January and set out to overhaul the club’s internal workings as they seek to return it to the top of world football.
Craig spent eight years at City before leaving his role as director of corporate affairs to head to Stamford Bridge in September 2022. He left Chelsea, where he was director of communications and public affairs, at the end of last year.
Craig will report to Berrada when he joins United on July 13, but will begin his role on Wednesday.
Ratcliffe and INEOS are attempting to turn United’s workforce into an agile, high-performance operation. As part of the process, they have made it mandatory for staff to work from the club’s offices in Manchester or London rather than from home. An email sent to workers last week offered early payment of an annual bonus in case they did not want to return to the office and resigned before Thursday.
