- West Ham appoint former Rangers CCO Karim Virani
- Virani had a short and successful spell in Glasgow
- He has the proven track record to help West Ham if they go down
West Ham United have today announced that former Rangers Chief Commercial Officer Karim Virani is their new interim CEO.
The Hammers released a statement: “West Ham United is pleased to confirm the appointment of Karim Virani as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“A highly respected and experienced figure within the professional game, Virani returns to the Club having previously led the digital, marketing and commercial operation between 2015 and 2020.”
The new West Ham chief had a brief but successful spell at Ibrox before leaving in February 2025 after a significant boardroom overhaul.
The former Rangers boss has been appointed following Karren Brady’s exit after 16 years at the club.
Here’s what he achieved at Rangers in his short spell at the club.
Karim Virani’s short spell at Rangers
Karim Virani served as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Rangers from August 2023 to February 2025.
His appointment was a strategic move by then-CEO James Bisgrove to accelerate the club’s commercial growth.
Virani was brought in to lead the club’s commercial, digital, and marketing functions.
His primary remit was to identify and execute the next phase of the club’s global commercial strategy.
He focused on modernising the club’s digital fan engagement and marketing efforts to better monetise the club’s global supporter base.
His time at Ibrox coincided with a significant period of executive transition at the club.
Virani left in early 2025 and joined the board of the English non-league side Hashtag United.
His spell at Ibrox in numbers
Specific per-deal figures for every sponsorship are rarely made public, but the club’s overall financial reports show growth under his stewardship.
In the 2024 Annual Report (Virani’s first full season), Rangers reported record core revenue of £88.3 million.
In the same report, commercial revenue reached a record £67 million, showcasing double-digit growth.
By the end of the 2024/25 financial year, total revenue rose again by 7% to a new record of £94.1 million.
The club moved from a £10.5m loss (2022/23) to a much-improved £2.7 million profit before player trading in the 2025 accounts.
Read Rangers analysis
The Hammers are in a desperate attempt to steer clear of Tottenham Hotspur and stay in the Premier League.
Karim Virani has proven he has the credentials to drastically improve financial situations at clubs.
If a team like West Ham goes down, financial constraints could be a real burden in the EFL.
From his time at Rangers, Virani has the capabilities to maximise profits and revenues to keep a club ticking over.
