Everton beefs up its boardroom governance with appointment of US billionaire

Everton FC owner, The Friedkin Group, is adding to its corporate structure with the appointment of US financial specialist and billionaire, Christopher Sarofim, as ‘board observer’.

He is currently chairman of the global investment manager, Fayez Sarofim & Co, which has approximately £31bn of assets under management, and has joined the club’s Friedkin-controlled ownership group, Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited.

His personal worth is valued at $3.7bn and it is understood any investment he makes will be into Roundhouse rather than Everton FC.

He brings almost 40 years worth of experience in investment, fund management and philanthropy to Everton and its ownership group, which is aimed at further strengthening the club’s financial base.

He welcomed the opportunity to join the ownership group of Everton, which he described as “an historic sporting institution with a very exciting future”.

He added: “I have known and admired the Friedkin family for many years and I look forward to working with Marc Watts, The Friedkin Group and everyone at Everton to help the club fulfil its huge potential on and off the pitch.”

The Friedkin Group chairman and CEO, Dan Friedkin, said: “Christopher Sarofim is someone I have known and respected for many years.

“He brings experience, sound judgment and wisdom that will be valuable as we continue to drive the club forward in all areas.”

Mr Sarofim is chairman of The Sarofim Group and Fayez Sarofim & Co and president of Sarofim International Management Company.

He is a member of Fayez Sarofim & Co’s executive and investment committees, and a co-manager of the mutual funds that Fayez Sarofim & Co sub-advises for BNY Mellon and a portfolio manager for a variety of institutional and high net worth clients.  He joined the firm in 1988 as an associate.

Mr Sarofim received an A.B. in History from Princeton University in 1986. Prior to joining Fayez Sarofim & Co, he was an analyst in Goldman Sachs & Co’s corporate finance department.

He serves on the boards of Sable Offshore Corp, Wood Partners, Highland Resources Inc, and the George R. Brown Partnership.

He is chairman of the Sarofim Foundation, and a trustee of The Brown Foundation, Inc, Baylor College of Medicine, and serves on the advisory committee of the MD Anderson Cancer Centre Board of Visitors.

The Sarofim family is also a minority owner of the Houston Texans of the NFL.

US media tycoon Dan Friedkin’s acquisition of Everton FC was approved by the Premier League on December 19, 2024.

In a deal worth a reported £400m he took control of the Blues from former 94.1% majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri.

Last month the Friedkin Group, which also owns Italian Serie A side, AS Roma, agreed long term financing for Everton’s new stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront.

The funding, totalling £350m, was from a consortium of blue-chip institutional lenders, refinancing borrowing that supported the completion of the 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

The offering was oversubscribed multiple times, ensuring competitive terms beneficial to Everton, the club said.