Andrew Parkinson expects a smooth transition between Michael Dunford and himself when he takes over as Plymouth Argyle’s chief executive officer at the end of the season.
Parkinson has been working at Home Park since December as the executive lead on hospitality, conferencing and events.
However, the 56-year-old has now been appointed as CEO and will start his new role in May.
He will succeed Dunford, whose one-year contract ends in July but will remain at the club as vice-chairman of the board of directors.
Parkinson was previously operations director at Liverpool from 2011 until 2018.
He told Plymouth Live: “Michael has got a wealth of experience, not just at Argyle of course, but within football.
“He will be invaluable to me, and to the club, and a smooth transition will take place.”
Parkinson added: “I’m tremendously excited about taking the role. I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s a great time to be joining the club. The short time I have been here has been fantastic.
“I think the club is on a journey and it’s great to be part of that, and to have a big say in that too.”
Parkinson was at Liverpool when then League Two side Argyle visited Anfield for a FA Cup third round tie in January 2017.
Argyle’s majority owner and chairman Simon Hallett was very struck by the slick operation that was run by the Premier League club that day, for which Parkinson was responsible.
That eventually led to Parkinson taking up his role at Argyle in December.
Hallett told Plymouth Live: “Andrew joined us as a consultant on a limited basis to work on the stadium.
“At that time, Michael (Dunford) was operating on a one-year contract.
“We were always clear with Michael that he was taking over as CEO for one year and he has done a very good job.
Andrew’s attractions are that he is a guy who is very closely focused on the delivery to supporters of high quality entertainment.
“He was the operations director at Liverpool, and anybody who went there for our FA Cup game a couple of seasons ago would have been astounded by the quality of the service we got.
“From the people greeting you at the door, to the stewards, it was just, to my mind, an example of really high quality attention to making sure that fans, visitors, all got the absolute best in terms of service and overall experience.
“Andrew was responsible for that, for all fans, not just the people in the directors’ box or the luxury accommodation, and with limited resources we can do the same.”
Hallett added: “It’s not all about the resources. It’s about changing the culture of the staff.
“It’s about making sure that you pay attention to the little details, so it’s not going to be sorted out with money.
“It’s going to be sorted out with making sure that our staff are properly trained, that they are the right staff and they realise that they are there to serve the fans.
“I think Andrew offers that. He’s a very process-oriented person, which always appeals to me, and he has got to a record of success in the key area for Argyle over the next couple of years.
“So I’m delighted that he took on our offer to become CEO.”
Parkinson will become a key player at the club, along with first team manager and head of football Derek Adams, according to Hallett.
He said: “I think they are two separate roles but clearly you need to work together and Derek, of course, is our head of football, not just first team manager.
“So I think as head of football you obviously have to work reasonably closely with the CEO, who is responsible for all activities of the club.
“How we will make alterations to the governance of the club is still being sorted out. We are almost to the last straws now but we have moved to a dual assurance system.
“My goal is very much to become a non-executive chairman. As I keep saying, I have a day job and my partners have been very tolerant of the time and energy that Argyle has taken.
“But I do want to become a non-executive chairman and I think it’s appropriate that we adopt that kind of governance system.
“So, within the club, Derek and Andrew will be the key players.”
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Wed Mar 20, 2019 6:23 pm
