PETER LAWWELL has retired from his role as Celtic chief executive and will leave the post in June, as CQN reported earlier today.
The 61-year-old supremo, who took over the role in 2003, revealed he had first discussed the possibility of stepping down LAST year.
Lawwell also praised his successor, Dominic McKay, who takes over after 13 years at Scottish Rugby, the last six of which were spent as chief operating officer.
The Hoops boss has overseen a period of unprecedented success which has delivered 29 trophies to the club, including 13 league titles, four domestic trebles and participation in the last 16 of the Champions League on three occasions.
The club also completed the phenomenal quadruple treble on December 20 last year when they beat Hearts 4-3 on penalty-kicks in the delayed Scottish Cup Final, the Parkhead side’s 16th consecutive domestic honour. It is a spectacular feat that will surely never be equalled in Scottish football.
In a statement, Lawwell described McKay as an “excellent successor”, adding: “It has been an enormous privilege to have served the club and our supporters for more than 17 years – a wonderful honour to have been part of an institution I have loved and supported all my life.
“I will always be very proud of what we have achieved together and it has been a particular privilege to be involved throughout a period in the club’s history which has brought immense domestic success – as well as so many great European nights at Celtic Park.
“I first discussed the possibility of my retirement with the chairman last year and we were keen to ensure an orderly handover to a new CEO once we had found the right candidate.
“Now that the process to select Dominic McKay as my successor is complete, I feel the time is now right to announce my retirement at the end of this season.”
Lawwell added: “It has been a difficult year for everyone in so many ways and I just wanted to take this opportunity once again to wish our supporters well.
“Even in a period of such adversity, upheaval and uncertainty, which our fans have faced in their own lives and communities, so many supporters have been with us again in such huge numbers. I sincerely thank all those supporters who have stayed with us.
“Celtic will always be the biggest and the best club in Scotland and our supporters will always be everything to our success. We need our fans with us to achieve that success.”
