Rangers have confirmed the appointment of St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie as the club’s new chief executive.
The 47-year-old is set to start “later in the season” as the replacement for Patrick Stewart who was sacked in November.
The life-long Rangers fan has been on the Buddies board since 2020. He was on the Light Blues’ radar for some time, having spoken to the club about the same post in August 2024 in the wake of James Bisgrove’s surprise departure for Saudi Arabia only to withdraw from the process to focus on his CEO role at children’s charity Kibble.
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh said: “We spoke to an exceptional group of candidates across Scotland and Europe, and Jim consistently stood out for his understanding of what Rangers stands for and the standards this club demands.
“He impressed us with his ability to lead people, connect with the club and its supporters, and operate at a very high-level day to day.
“Jim is a proven leader, and we are confident he will be an outstanding chief executive for Rangers.”
Gillespie said: “Rangers Football Club is a historic institution, and it’s an honour to be asked to contribute to its leadership. I’m thankful to the owners and the board for their confidence, and I look forward to working closely with them, the staff and all those associated with Rangers.
“The focus now is on delivery: rolling up our sleeves, setting clear standards and ensuring the organisation is aligned behind sustainable success on the pitch.”
Former chairman Fraser Thornton has been acting as interim chief executive since Stewart’s exit and will become an executive director when Gillespie begins his new role.
Gillespie’s exit will further unsettle St Mirren, whose League Cup-winning boss Stephen Robinson is being hotly tipped to take over as manager of Aberdeen after the Dons sacked Jimmy Thelin after 18 months in charge.
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