Prime Arena Appoints Susan Whelan as Independent Chairperson
Dublin, Ireland —Tuesday, 23 June 2026— Prime Arena Holdings is pleased to announce the board appointment of Susan Whelan as its new Independent Chairperson, bringing with her a wealth of international leadership experience across sport and business.
Susan Whelan is widely recognised for her transformative leadership as Chief Executive of Leicester City Football Club, where she played a central role in delivering one of the most remarkable success stories in modern sport, including the club’s historic Premier League title win in 2016 and their FA Cup win in 2021.
Over more than a decade at the helm, she guided Leicester City through sustained growth, championing a model built on long-term sustainability, strong governance, and deep community connection.
Her appointment marks an important milestone for Prime Arena Holdings as the project continues to progress toward planning submission and government grant approval. Susan’s proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, will be instrumental in guiding the next phase of the project.
In addition to her executive leadership, Susan has held numerous board and trustee positions across sport and philanthropy, including roles with The Ireland Funds, the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, and the Premier League’s Audit and Remuneration Committee. She is widely respected for her commitment to ensuring that major sporting organisations create lasting social and community impact.
Commenting on the appointment, CEO Dermot Rigley said:
“We are delighted after a lengthy process, to welcome Susan as Independent Chairperson. The selection process was rigorous, with candidates assessed against criteria including leadership, governance, culture and commercial strengths with Susan emerging as a clear winner.
Her track record of leadership, integrity, and delivery at the highest levels of sport makes her exceptionally well placed to guide Prime Arena. Her experience strongly complements our ambition to develop a world-class, multipurpose venue for Ireland and having a fully independent Chair will provide additional strengthen to the board.”
Susan Whelan added:
“Prime Arena is a uniquely ambitious project with the potential to transform Ireland’s sporting and event landscape. It is very surprising that an arena likely this, which is common in cities and countries across the world, has not yet been constructed here. I’m excited to work with the board and team to help deliver a truly world-class venue that serves the people of Ireland for generations to come.”
Prime Arena has also confirmed that investor and co-founder Tom Kennedy, who has served as Chair to date, will remain a member of the Board and will continue to play an active role in the project ensuring continuity and ongoing strategic support.
“Tom has been instrumental in bringing Prime Arena to this stage, and we are grateful that he will continue to contribute his expertise and insight as a board member,” said Dermot Rigley.
