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Football supremo to head Jewish Leadership Council

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Simon Johnson, who led England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup, has been appointed as interim chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council.

He takes over the reins from Jeremy Newmark, who stepped down as chief executive last month on health grounds.

Mr Johnson’s previous positions include director of rights and business affairs at ITV, director of legal and business affairs at the Premier League and director of corporate affairs at the Football Association.

In 2008, he was made chief operating officer of the company that bid for the World Cup.

More recently, he has worked as a business and sports consultant, with the Rugby Football Union among his clients.

The chairman of one of the United Synagogue’s largest communities, Hampstead Garden Suburb, he serves on the US council and headed a consultation on the Chief Rabbinate for the US prior to the appointment of Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Mick Davis, JLC chairman said, “Simon has a wealth of experience in running organisations and with the range of issues that the JLC is currently engaged with it is important that we have someone with Simon’s experience leading the team.”

Mr Johnson, 47, who starts work on Monday, said he was “very pleased to be joining the JLC at this exciting time and with so many important projects and initiatives underway. I am greatly looking forward to joining the team.”

Mr Newmark will continue to advise the JLC as a consultant.

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