The first ever female on the Chelsea board

 

Roman Abramovich's right-hand woman today became the only ever female to be appointed to Chelsea's executive board.
Marina Granovskaia took up the influential role today after years of being a key player behind the scenes.
Granovskaia is now in the top five of a small select group of women who hold powerful positions within the world of football - joining the likes of Karren Brady and Carolyn Radford.

 

 

Her role at the club has been expanding in recent years and she has been attending board meetings in an unofficial capacity since 2010, as well as acting as a transfer broker.

Granovskaia has been playing a de facto chief of staff role to Abramovich across many of his business interests. She was once described as arguably the most powerful presence at the club.
The Russian-Canadian has been employed by Abramovich for 17 years, and will now become one of the most highly-placed women working in English football.