Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has stepped down from his position as the CEO of Aston Villa after five years at the club.
Purslow joined Villa while they were in the Championship in 2018 shortly after NSWE acquired a controlling stake in the club. It was his third role in English football after previous positions at Liverpool and Chelsea.
During his time at Villa Park, the 59-year-old oversaw the club's return to the Premier League, a then-British record sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City, and Unai Emery's side securing European qualification for the first time in 10 years.
Speaking of his decision, Purslow told the Aston Villa website: "It has been a total privilege to lead Villa for the last five years. I am proud that I leave the club in a much better position on and off the pitch than when I arrived.
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"We are re-established in the Premier League; we now have a very competitive professional Women’s team; we have outstanding Academies for boys and girls; we have created a world class training ground and secured planning permission for an expansion and modernisation of our wonderful stadium.
“Thank you to everyone at Villa and our supporters who have made my time here so enjoyable.”
During his five years as CEO, Purslow was also said to be instrumental in the appointment of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as manager.
Despite enjoying success both domestically and on the continent with Rangers, Gerrard struggled to ever get going and was sacked after just 11 months in the hotseat, with the Villans hovering above the Premier League's relegation zone. His replacement, Emery, led the club to a seventh-placed finish and Europa League football next season.
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