American businessman secures majority stake in Carrick Rangers
American senior business executive Michael Smith has acquired a majority shareholding in Carrick Rangers Football Club.
A seasoned leader with a mix of technology, commercial and operations experience, Smith has served as a senior executive in some of the world’s leading companies, including over 22 years with Nike, and is currently the Chief Information Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Smith has been a lifelong football fan, supporting his hometown side Portland Timbers and was a member of the Christian Brothers University’s football team in Memphis, Tennessee where he studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.
Having acquired a majority shareholding in the club, Smith has already been watching Rangers’ opening Sports Direct Premiership fixtures remotely and will travel to Northern Ireland this week to watch the ‘Gers live for the first time against Linfield at Windsor Park on Saturday afternoon.
Smith will work alongside the existing Board of Directors who will all retain their roles including Chairman Peter Clarke, Vice Chairman John Hood and Secretary Andrew Sloan.
“I am thrilled to join the Carrick Rangers organization and be a part of the Club's continued ascension. Becoming a steward of a Club has been a dream of mine since the age of 13. I am so blessed to realize that dream with a club like Carrick Rangers and alongside a gentleman and leader like Peter," said Smith.
“The club belongs to the supporters and the community. Peter and I are merely stewards of the club. The commitment to the community is a big part of what attracted me to Carrick Rangers. It is such a symbiotic relationship between club and community. I want the club to be one of the greatest assets of Carrickfergus and the County but we can only do that with the support of the community. We need more fans in the stands, we need more volunteers in all aspects of the club but particularly our community engagement, more youth in the academy, and certainly the continued tremendous support of the local council. This is how we create a virtuous circle.
“I have been an underdog my entire life and often been counted out. I relish the underdog role because it motivates me and I believe it makes achievement even more joyful. So many people have counted Carrick out but, make no mistake, it is a Club on the ascent. Peter and the Board have been building a strong foundation on and off the pitch and Stuart has shown he can get the most out of a team on the pitch," he added.
“The welcome here is truly humbling and it validates the decision my family and I have made to invest our lives into the Club, Carrickfergus, and Northern Ireland. I am looking forward to partnering with Peter, Stuart and the Board on this journey to build a Club that is the pride of the community.”
Chairman Peter Clarke added, “I am delighted to welcome Michael to Carrick Rangers, he is a gentleman who has worked in an executive role in many of the top companies in the world for over thirty years. His business acumen is second to none and his credentials speak for themselves.
“The benefits if we as a club and community work even closer together are immense and I would invite everyone to come and meet Michael and myself between 6:45pm-7:30pm on Friday 1st September, just before kick-off in our game against Dungannon Swifts, where we will be happy to answer questions and generally chat with everyone."