Glentoran Football Club has appointed Ross Strathearn as its new Chief Commercial Officer.
The senior appointment marks a significant step in the club’s off-field development and the delivery of Glentoran’s long-term commercial strategy.
Ross will be responsible for driving the club’s commercial growth, with a focus on expanding revenue streams and developing a strong and diverse partnership portfolio that supports sustainable success across all areas of the club.
He joins Glentoran with a proven track record in commercial leadership, having most recently served as Commercial Director at Larne Football Club.
During his time at Inver Park, he oversaw a period of sustained commercial growth, driven by an innovative partnership offering and strategic stakeholder engagement.
A graduate of Teesside University, Ross also previously held a senior role with the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, where he supported the organisation’s commercial and communications strategy across the island of Ireland.
Tony Webster, Chief Executive Officer at Glentoran FC, said: "We’re delighted to welcome Ross to Glentoran as our new Chief Commercial Officer. His experience, energy and strategic mindset stood out from the outset and his understanding of both the sporting and commercial landscape makes him an outstanding addition to our team.
"This is a pivotal appointment as we continue to modernise our off-field operations and build a sustainable model that supports long-term investment across our men’s and women’s teams, academy, infrastructure and community programmes.
"Ross has already hit the ground running, securing new commercial partnerships in his opening weeks. He brings a sharp focus on value creation and understands the importance of delivering measurable return on investment for our partners.”
Ross’s appointment builds on a series of high-profile commercial partnerships announced by Glentoran ahead of the 2025/26 season, reflecting the club’s continued focus on developing commercial revenue streams.
These include a new four-year agreement with Macron as Official Technical Kit Partner and a renewed two-year deal with BetMcLean as Official Main Partner.
The club has also secured a multi-year extension with Future Ticketing as Official Digital Ticketing Partner, along with a new long-term partnership with Creative Commercial Interiors, who join as the club’s Official Commercial Interiors Partner.
Colin Jess, Chairman of Glentoran FC, said: "Ross joins the club at a strategically significant time as we continue to modernise and professionalise the way Glentoran operates off the pitch. His wealth of experience, combined with an understanding of both the local and broader business landscapes, makes him an ideal fit for our ambitions."
"The Board remains firmly focused on building a sustainable and resilient financial model that supports success across every area of the club. Expanding our revenue streams in innovative and forward-thinking ways is central to that strategy. Ross’s appointment reflects our intent to recruit the right people to deliver on that ambition."
Ross Strathearn, Chief Commercial Officer at Glentoran FC, said: "It’s a real privilege to step into this role at a club with Glentoran’s stature, heritage and ambition. There’s a clear vision for what the club wants to achieve, both on the pitch and commercially and I’m excited to be part of driving that forward."
“My focus is on building a best-in-class commercial partnership portfolio that enhances Glentoran’s financial sustainability and delivers measurable return on investment for every partner we engage with. That means creating meaningful collaborations that resonate with our supporters, strengthen brand visibility and contribute directly to long-term shared success.”
"Having lived in East Belfast for over 16 years, I understand the deep connection between this club and its community. That connection is one of Glentoran’s greatest strengths and it will be at the heart of everything we build commercially in the months and years ahead."
