John Bennett has re-affirmed his commitment to Rangers in a major career move.
The Ibrox chairman will step away from a long career in the asset management industry next year to 'focus his energies' on running the club. Bennett is director of European equities and a portfolio manager at British-American firm Janus Henderson, with a career spanning four decades in the industry.
The 59-year-old succeeded Douglas Park as Rangers chairman in April, having previously served as vice-chairman during his predecessor's time at the helm. And he has now decided to switch his focus fully onto his duties in overseeing his boyhood club's operations.
A press release from Janus Hendersen read: "Janus Henderson Investors announced today that John Bennett, Director of European Equities and Portfolio Manager on the Janus Henderson Continental European and Pan-European long-only and long/short strategies, has decided to retire from the asset management industry and the firm in Q3 2024, a full year from this announcement, after a career spanning four decades. Following his retirement from the industry, John will focus his energies on overseeing the running of Rangers Football Club, of which he is a lifelong supporter."
A short statement from Bennet read: “This is the best European Equities team I have had the pleasure to work in. Together we have built a really strong culture of success and I have every confidence that this team will continue to deliver for our clients”.
Meanwhile, Rangers have been handed a major boost in ahead of Friday's Europa League group stage draw.
Michael Beale's side dropped into UEFA's second-tier competition on Wednesday night after suffering a heavy 7-3 aggregate defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-off round.
The Ibrox outfit were hammered 5-1 on a miserable second-leg evening in the Netherlands, a blow somewhat softened by parachuting directly into the Europa League, a competition in which they reached the final in 2022.
With the draw still taking shape as qualifiers were completed, Rangers looked set to take their place in pot two.
However, Sparta Prague overturning a three-goal deficit to knockout Dinamo Zagreb has elevated Beale and his team into pot one.
That means they cannot be drawn against the likes of Liverpool, Roma, Villarreal, Atalanta and West Ham.
