The Manchester United executive responsible for delivering Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest round of job cuts will leave the club, along with two other senior figures at Old Trafford.
Annie Hale, United’s people and transformation director, is understood to be departing when the second redundancy programme under Ratcliffe has been completed. Staff were told last week that 200 more could lose their jobs after 250 cuts last summer.
James Holroyd, chief commercial development officer, and London-based commercial director Florence Lafaye will also leave, adding to the sweeping changes at United during Ratcliffe’s one year in charge of football operations.
The three figures have chosen to leave, rather than being forced out. Their departures will result in United losing more experience behind the scenes as Holroyd had been at the club for 14 years and Lafaye 12 years.
Hale, meanwhile, has been at the club since 2019 and has worked under chief executives Ed Woodward, Richard Arnold, Patrick Stewart and – during Ratcliffe’s Ineos era – Omar Berrada.
With Ratcliffe in charge of football operations, major cuts have been made to reduce costs after five years of making losses. This led to 250 redundancies last summer, which Hale dealt with as part of her job.
United announced annual losses of £113.2 million in September and will face significant losses of broadcast income unless they qualify for the Champions League through winning the Europa League.
It has been revealed in United’s finances that the departures of Erik ten Hag as manager and Dan Ashworth as sporting director cost £14.5 million. Staff have already been told the club have to explore every option to save, including reducing costs and raising revenues.
The 1958 protest group has called on supporters to voice their opposition by wearing black and joining a protest march before Sunday’s Premier League game with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
