Baroness Karren Brady has stepped down from her role as vice-chair of West Ham United, bringing an end to a 16-year tenure at the Premier League club.
The businesswoman officially left her position on April 15, 2026, after deciding earlier in the year to step away.
She was appointed in January 2010 by then joint-chairs David Sullivan and David Gold.
In a farewell statement, Brady described her time at the club as a privilege, highlighting the team’s triumph in the UEFA Europa Conference League as a defining moment of her tenure.
Brady’s leadership at the club oversaw major developments, including the controversial relocation from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016, a move that reshaped the club’s commercial outlook but drew criticism from sections of the fanbase.
She also played a role in key financial decisions, including the British record £105 million transfer of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
On the pitch, West Ham United enjoyed a period of relative stability, maintaining a long run in the Premier League and achieving European success, including a semi-final run in the Europa League and the Conference League title win in the 2022–23 season, the club’s first major trophy in over four decades.
Despite these achievements, Brady’s tenure was marked by divisions among supporters, particularly over the stadium move and the club’s direction.
Protests against the club’s leadership, including Brady and Sullivan, have been a recurring feature in recent seasons.
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Club officials paid tribute to her contribution, with joint-chair Daniel Kretinsky praising her role in the club’s growth and strategic decisions, while Sullivan described her as an “exceptional leader” instrumental to West Ham’s development.
Beyond football, Brady is widely known for her role alongside Alan Sugar on the TV show The Apprentice UK and for her position in the UK’s House of Lords, where she became a life peer in 2014.
Her departure comes at a challenging time for West Ham United, who are battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League with only a handful of matches remaining this season.
Also stepping down is executive director Nathan Thompson, who noted his pride in serving as one of the few Black board members in the league and called for greater diversity in football leadership.
Brady leaves behind a complex legacy hailed as a trailblazer in football administration while also remaining a polarising figure among supporters.
