Alison Brittain has kept a low profile since becoming the league’s first female chair almost four years ago. Formerly a senior executive in the hospitality and financial services sectors, she is also chair and trustee of The King’s Trust Group.
Described as “sensible” by one acquaintance, in September she spoke at a university alumni event, revealing that she was initially sceptical about joining the Premier League because she had never worked in sport.
Two senior club executives – the former Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham (now at Spurs), and ex-Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow – told her that her skillset was what the league needed, helping to persuade her to apply.
She said: “They actually spent some time talking to me and saying ‘we aren’t looking for a super fan. In fact we’re looking for the exact opposite – somebody who will bring a different mindset. A business mindset, governance standards, be able to reset us a little bit into a different way’…and so I then went through the process and ended up in the job.”
Describing herself as a “lifelong Manchester United fan [who] stood in the Stretford End before it had seats, as a kid” because of her family’s allegiance, Brittain is now also a Brentford supporter. In 2025, she received unanimous backing from the 20 clubs to continue for a second three-year stint.
Speaking in 2024, Brittain acknowledged the league was “not without its challenges”. But she has hailed what she describes as “the most exciting competition in the world”, and its global appeal, calling it an “enormous soft power asset” for the country.
She also recently said that “the whole point of running the league… is to make sure the competitive balance stays really good. Because what makes us successful is this virtuous circle of anyone could win any match any day… there has to be jeopardy.”
She added: “Someone has to care about keeping that balance, because if you ask the clubs they’d rather not have that balance because they’d like to win all the time.”
When asked if that was her job, she replied: “Absolutely. That’s my job.”
According to Purslow, Brittain has “extremely good people skills and diplomacy in a role where keeping 20 owners more or less happy is not an easy job. She is a very down to earth, straightforward person, and that plays well.”
