FEATURE INTERVIEW
In conversation with… Billy Hogan, chief executive, Liverpool FC Liverpool FC chief executive Billy Hogan discusses 16-hour commutes, the importance of inclusion and how the club is innovating to reach fans around the world. been able to overcome some of those challenges? Yes, absolutely. The pandemic was not ideal timing but, when I consider what so many people in the world have experienced, our challenges pale in comparison. From our perspective, it was acutely disappointing. We were on our way to winning the Premier League when lockdown happened. When we were able to restart safely, it was behind closed doors and we missed the opportunity to celebrate the title properly with our supporters. It was difficult for players and staff to lose that positive energy around them, but thankfully we were able to keep the connection with our supporters and the wider community. It’s been wonderful to welcome the supporters back to Anfield and to see full stadia again in sport, so long may that continue. What long-term impacts do you think that the pandemic has had / will continue to have on the world of football? The pandemic has had a profound effect on everyone involved in sports or live events.
You passed the one-year anniversary of your appointment as CEO in September. Do you feel you’ve now settled into your new role at the club? I’m enjoying the role enormously. It’s always been a huge honour and privilege for me to have a senior position at this football club, which plays such a major role in its local communities and enjoys the support of a global fanbase.
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Having been here for several years already, I’ve worked closely with senior people across LFC such as Michael Edwards, Julian Ward and Jurgen Klopp and those strong relationships have helped me as I’ve stepped into the role of CEO.
We wanted to pull together as a club from the outset, protecting as many people and jobs as possible and supporting our communities at home and overseas. We focussed on issues such as food poverty, social isolation - programmes that we were already heavily involved in and we stepped up this involvement during the pandemic.
Taking over as CEO in the midst of a global pandemic must have brought its own very unique challenges for both yourself and the club. How have you
A hybrid approach to home working will certainly be carried forward into the future. Having previously been sceptical myself about its effectiveness, technology
