Arsenal have announced the death of former club chairman Sir Chips Keswick at 84.
Keswick was a boyhood Gunners fan, who rose to the top of the boardroom at Highbury and Emirates Stadium. He spent 15 years in the Arsenal hierarchy from joining them as a director in 2005 to retiring in 2020. Keswick spent seven years as chairman after taking over in 2013.
His tenure in north London took in a successful spell in Arsenal’s history as a club. While his history with the Gunners also started in 1949 when Keswick stood in the boys’ enclosure at Highbury. The executive was a regular at their stadium, before making his name in banking.
Arsenal announce Sir Chips Keswick has died at the age of 84
Arsenal announced on Friday, April 19, 2024 that Keswick has died at the age of 84. The club issued a touching tribute via their official website honouring his legacy. The Gunners further gave their ‘deepest sympathies’ to his wife Lady Sarah and children David, Tobias and Adam.
The statement included: “Sir Chips very much lived the values of Arsenal Football Club and guided the club expertly for seven seasons, stepping down in May 2020, shortly after he had celebrated his 80th birthday.
“During his time as [the] chairman, he oversaw the club’s regular participation in the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup victories of 2017 and 2020 – with the latter, fittingly, a successful ending to his very positive association with the club.”
When did Sir Chips Keswick join the Arsenal boardroom?
Sir Chips Keswick first joined the Arsenal boardroom on November 24, 2005 along with Lord Harris. The Gunners note that he offered ‘a clear-thinking, popular and influential presence’ in their hierarchy during that time. Keswick then became Arsenal’s chairman in June 2013.
Keswick was the natural choice to take over as Arsenal’s chairman in 2014 when Peter Hill-Wood stepped down. Hill-Wood and Keswick had become good friends during the latter’s time in the banking industry and recognised what Keswick would bring to the boardroom.
Hill-Wood felt Keswick’s passion for Arsenal, business acumen and common sense were the perfect traits for a club executive. Arsene Wenger in 2014, 2015 and 2017 plus Mikel Arteta in 2020 would add FA Cup titles to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet with Keswick in the boardroom.
How did Sir Chips Keswick make his name?
Peter Hill-Wood sought to name Sir Chips Keswick to the Arsenal boardroom in 2005 as he recognised the success that the boyhood Gunners supporter had achieved in the banking industry. Hill-Wood also had a history in banking as the former Vice-Chairman of Hambros.
Keswick held several senior roles in the banking industry, including once as the Chairman of Hambros Bank. He was also a Director of the Bank of England before accepting Hill-Wood’s invitation to join the Gunners’ hierarchy. Keswick also indulged other interests after retiring.
Arsenal bid farewell to Keswick in May 2020 as their former chairman sought to spend more time with his family. He also indulged his other passion, horse racing, as a respected owner of several racehorses. Keswick now leaves behind a lasting legacy at Arsenal after his death.