What Darren Eales told me last Friday as new CEO stopped for a photo outside St James' Park...
As I walked up to St James' Park last Friday ahead of our pre-season clash with Atalanta, I stopped for a few moments outside the Sir Bobby Robson statue to post team news onto the blog's Facebook page.
Moments later, I looked up and to my right was a familiar face - our new CEO Darren Eales.
"Darren!", I said. He smiled and was happy to stop for a short chat and a quick selfie. It was a brief conversation but I immediately noticed how engaged, friendly and genuine he seemed.
Last month, the club announced that he'd agreed to become our new CEO following his time in America as Atalanta United's President. However, he revealed to me last Friday that he was still 'undercover' during his first visit to St James' Park since taking the job, as his role on Tyneside doesn't technically begin until the end of August.
During our chat, he said just how "excited" he was to be here, revealing that he was looking forward to getting started after returning to England from a successful spell in the US.
During his time in the MLS, he's been described as a club builder, marketeer, communicator, legal eagle and football administrator, with him renowned for his focus on putting fans first - believing business decisions that are made with supporters in mind are often the best ones. It's an ethos many here will gladly get behind after years of ignorance from a certain Mike Ashley.
Here's what he told me prior to Friday's 1-0 win over Atalanta during our brief chat outside the stadium:
"I'm actually undercover - I'm not 'officially' in the job until August, but it's great to be here!
"I'm looking forward to it.
"Exciting times ahead!"
Eales struck me as a sincere bloke who will prove to be a brilliant appointment in time. If my brief chat with him was anything to go by, I'd say we've got another good one.
Welcome to the Toon, Darren!
