The FA is being shaken up and we’re here for it.

Words Sarah Adama

Shutterstock

In its 157-year history, the Football Association, to nobody’s surprise, has never had a female chair. This month, the governing body announced its unanimous nomination of Debbie Hewitt MBE as Chair of the FA, with effect from January 2022. She is set the replace the former chair who resigned in November 2020 following offensive comments. 

The FA board made up of a seven-member selection panel led by non-executive director Kate Tinsley considered Hewitt’s extensive non-executive career spanning over 15 years across different sectors in Listed, private-equity backed and privately owned companies. Currently, she is the non-executive chair of Visa Europe, The Restaurant Group plc, BGL Group and White Stuff and has been awarded for her proven success in servicing businesses and the public sector. Following a six years tenure in the role, she will step down from the Restaurant Group when she joins the FA. 

“I am delighted to be nominated for the role of non-executive chair of the Football Association,” Hewitt told the FA’s website.  

“ As the events in recent months have shown, this is a significant moment in time for English football, with a clear purpose for all stakeholders to secure the long term health of the game at all levels. 

I've been passionate about football from a very young age and I'm excited by the opportunity to play my part in shaping the future of something that means so much to so many.”

In such a male dominated industry, it’s rare to see women holding top posts. Yet women are, and have been, some of the biggest supporters of the sports sector. Debbie Hewitt has a tough job on her hands, though the optimism and support from her peers in the industry is welcoming. Former England and Manchester United Defender Gary Neville tweeted, “this is an outstanding achievement. The FA have a chance to modernise here if they allow Debbie to do her work!”