# General Director Menno Geelen to Depart Ajax Next April After seventeen years of service, Geelen steps down to pursue new career opportunities. - **Source:** [NOS Sport](https://nos.nl/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/05732950-bba0-47e4-9bdd-d080baf8506f ## Leadership Transition Announced Ajax general director Menno Geelen will officially step down from his position in April 2025. Geelen, who has served the Amsterdam club for nearly seventeen years in various capacities, confirmed the decision following discussions with the Supervisory Board. The club has already initiated a formal search process to identify his permanent successor. ## Context of the Appointment Geelen assumed the general director role in 2024 following the departure of Alex Kroes, who faced suspension due to insider trading allegations. Initially, Geelen expressed reluctance regarding the promotion, viewing the appointment as a temporary measure. He intended to return to his previous role as commercial director once a permanent candidate was secured. ## Challenges in Public Visibility During his tenure, Geelen struggled with the high-profile nature of the position. He notably regretted delegating media duties to financial director Baboeram Panday after a match against FC Groningen was abandoned due to excessive fireworks. Geelen later admitted to the NOS that he should have addressed the press personally given the situation's severity. ## Historical Executive Context The position of general director at Ajax has seen significant instability in recent years. Edwin van der Sar held the role from 2016 until 2023, stepping down due to exhaustion shortly before suffering a brain hemorrhage. Alex Kroes also had a brief, controversial tenure before eventually leaving the club entirely in February this year. ## Strategic Club Performance Despite internal leadership shifts, Ajax has shown signs of recovery following a disappointing previous season where they finished in fifth place. Under the current organizational structure, the club has climbed to second place in the Eredivisie. Geelen played a key role in the appointment of Jordi Cruijff as the club's technical director. ## Planned Succession Process The Supervisory Board and Geelen initiated early discussions regarding his expiring contract to ensure a smooth transition. By announcing the departure months in advance, the club aims to provide sufficient time for a thorough search. Ajax has confirmed that an external agency will be utilized to recruit the next general director. ## Geelen's Professional Reflection Reflecting on his long tenure, Geelen described working for Ajax as a consistent honor throughout his seventeen-year career. He emphasized that the decision to leave was reached through productive dialogue with the board. He now believes it is the appropriate time to pursue a new professional step outside of the organization. ## Future Organizational Outlook The upcoming change marks another chapter in the club's ongoing efforts to stabilize its executive management. With the team currently performing well on the pitch, the focus shifts to finding a leader who can balance commercial success with public representation. The club remains committed to maintaining its current upward trajectory during this transition. ## Sources covering this story - https://nos.nl/l/2638293 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._