Bernstein takes development brief at City

Sir Howard Bernstein has been appointed as a strategic development advisor by City Football Group, the parent company of Manchester City FC, a role in which he will contribute to development, community and commercial initiatives at the Etihad Campus and surrounding areas.

Bernstein, the ex-chief executive of Manchester City Council who has always worn his support of City publicly, has for some years been an honorary president of the club. As part of his new role, he has rejoined the board of Eastlands Strategic Development Company, the joint venture between Manchester City Council and CFG’s parent company, the Abu Dhabi United Group, having resigned following his retirement.

Marty Edelman, a CFG board member and the executive chairman of Manchester Life Development Company, said: “We are deeply honoured that Sir Howard has accepted this role as we progress ambitious plans to advance the Campus and surrounding areas.

“Sir Howard’s retirement from Manchester City Council earlier this year meant that we could have potentially lost his invaluable two decades of experience in rejuvenating East Manchester. We are delighted that he will take an active role in the continued revitalisation of the area through the further evolution of the Etihad Campus.”

An expanded role at City has long been tipped by Place North West and others, given Bernstein’s history in driving forward the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which required the building of the stadium that was such a key ingredient in attracting ADUG’s investment in 2008 – a decision that has since seen upward of £400m invested in projects such as the City Football Academy and the club become Champions League regulars.

Following Bernstein’s retirement from the council at the end of March, it was announced that he would be working for seven days a month with Deloitte, the consultancy that has been involved in the majority of large applications and frameworks in Manchester’s recent past.

He has also taken on a role with the University of Manchester, advising on government interactions, and is chairing the development committee for the redevelopment of Manchester Jewish Museum.