Tan Kesler
Tan Kesler | |
|---|---|
 Kesler with Hull City in 2022 | |
| Born | Tan Kesler 14 May 1979 Adana, Turkey |
| Education | Kean University New York University |
| Occupations |
|
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Spouse |
Ksenia Shamilova (m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Vice-chairman – Hull City | |
| In office 19 January 2022 – 17 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ehab Allam |
| Succeeded by | TBA |
| Vice-chairman – Pogoń Szczecin | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Karol Zaborowski |
| CEO – Pogoń Szczecin | |
| Assumed office 17 March 2025 | |
Tan Kesler (born 14 May 1979) is a Turkish businessman and football executive who is the current vice-chairman and CEO of Ekstraklasa club Pogoń Szczecin.
He previously worked as the vice-chairman of EFL Championship club Hull City.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]Kesler was born on 14 May 1979 in Adana, Turkey. He is the son of former Turkish international footballer and coach Şevket Kesler. He earned a BA in International Business and Finance at Kean University.[1] During his time there, Kesler would feature for the university's basketball team.[3] He would later earn an MA in Sports Business at New York University.[1]
Career
[edit]Kesler is a former FIFA-licensed agent and was the president of HTK Sports & Media from 2017 until 2022.[2][4] He also previously worked for the Turkish Football Federation.[2]
In January 2022, Kesler was an important figure in the acquisition of Hull City for businessman Acun Ilıcalı and his company Acun Medya.[2][5] After the takeover was completed, he was appointed vice-chairman of the club by Ilıcalı.[6] In order to dedicate himself to the role, Kesler waived all his other ongoing sports and media consultancy duties.[7]
Kesler was also influential for Acun Medya in their acquisition of Shelbourne in July 2023,[8] although their ownership of the Irish club would only last four months.[9] On 7 June 2024, it was announced that Kesler had been admitted to the EFL Board as a representative of the EFL Championship.[10] On 17 October 2024, Kesler left Hull by mutual consent.[11]
On 17 March 2025, he was named CEO, and on 21 March he became vice-president of Pogoń Szczecin, the fourth-placed club in the Ekstraklasa.[12][13][14]
Personal life
[edit]Kesler married Ksenia Shamilova on 29 December 2019. The couple have a son together, born in Hull,[15] on 26 April 2022.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "TAN KESLER". Hull City A.F.C. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 "Board of Directors confirmed". Hull City A.F.C. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Tan Kesler". Kean Athletics. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ↑ "Who is Hull City's proposed new director of football Tan Kesler + who do HTK Sports & Media represent?". The 72. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Acun Ilicali, the Turkish TV millionaire with dreams of helping Hull City roar again". The Athletic. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ↑ "'Crazy owner' Acun Ilicali targets the Premier League following Hull takeover". The Independent. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Hull City: Ambitious owner and cosmopolitan squad aiming to conquer Championship". The Athletic. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Hull City vice-chairman outlines his European ambitions for Shelbourne". Irish Mirror. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Hull City owner Acun Ilicali confirms Shelbourne decision as statement released". Hull Daily Mail. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ↑ "Tan Kesler appointed on EFL Board". Hull City A.F.C. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ↑ "Club Statement: Tan Kesler". Hull City A.F.C. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ↑ "Jest nowy lider! Oto tabela Ekstraklasy po hitowej kolejce". Sport.pl (in Polish). 16 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ↑ "Aktualizacja struktury organizacyjnej Pogoni Szczecin". Pogoń Szczecin SA. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ↑ "Konferencja prasowa z udziałem nowego właściciela i nowych władz Pogoni Szczecin". Pogoń Szczecin (in Polish). Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ↑ "Why I left Hull City for Poland - Kesler". BBC Sport. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.