VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Monday that John Furlong has decided to retire from the club effective December 31, 2019. As executive chair Furlong served as a key advisor to the club’s ownership and senior staff.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Whitecaps FC and look forward to supporting the club as it builds on its formidable base of support in the community and across the province,” said Furlong.
Whitecaps FC co-owner and director since 2009 Jeff Mallett will assume the executive chair position, formalizing his role as the public representative of the ownership group also consisting of Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, and Steve Nash.
"We are very thankful to John for his guidance and support during his eight years at the club," said Mallett. "John brought a wealth of knowledge and experience and was a helpful, seasoned resource for the ownership team and our executives."
Furlong joined Whitecaps FC in April 2012 following the highly successful staging of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. An actively engaged member of the sports community including chair of the globally successful Canada Sevens Rugby Championship; he is the recipient of the Order of Canada, Order of British Columbia, and numerous honorary doctorate degrees and other awards.
"As 2020 approaches, we are entering an exciting new era on and off the pitch," added Mallett. "As executive chair I will continue to help guide our team toward our vision of making Whitecaps FC one of the preeminent organizations in Major League Soccer. We are excited about 2020 and can't wait to get started."
Over the past decade, Mallett has also served as a governor on the Major League Soccer board and is an active MLS committee member at the league in business, media, and new ventures. The native of North Vancouver, BC has been a principle partner of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants since 2002 and executive committee member for the last decade. He was a co-owner and director of the historic Derby County FC in England from 2009 to 2015. In addition, Mallett is widely known as the founding president & chief operating officer of Yahoo! Inc from 1995 to 2002.
