By Business & Finance 
Elgin Loane, publisher The Irish Post, and keynote speaker David Dein, MBE at the Irish Post Breakfast in the City
David Dein, MBE addressed an audience of UK and Irish business leaders as keynote speaker at Irish Post Breakfast in the City event
At the annual Irish Post Breakfast in the City event held at multi-national law firm DWF LLP’s office in the Walkie-Talkie Building, Mr Dein, MBE shared stories from his career, including his role in the creation of the Premier League, his time at Arsenal FC and his most recent work with the Twinning Project which helps to rehabilitate prisoners – and for which, along with his services to football and motivational speaking, he was awarded an MBE in 2018.
Commenting on taking risks in business, former Arsenal FC Vice-Chairman David Dein used the tortoise analogy,
You can’t move forward without sticking your neck out.
His main philosophy and the reason behind his success is the motto ‘Stick your neck out’ adding: “I was always an Arsenal fan and in 1982 I stuck my neck out and sent a letter to the board asking to buy a share of the club.
After that I sent a blank cheque to show I was serious. In 1983 I was appointed Vice-Chairman.
Creating the Premier League and history with FIFA, UEFA and the Football Association
Mr Dein was one of the major architects of the formation of the Premier League in 1992, which would ultimately re-shape the structure and finances of English football. He was additionally responsible for bringing manager Arsène Wenger to Arsenal FC in 1996. He has previously served as Vice-Chairman of the Football Association (FA) and sat on various committees within FIFA and UEFA including UEFA’s Club Competition Committee and Executive Committee.
Irish Post Breakfast in the City
Publisher of The Irish Post Mr Elgin Loane said,
It was a pleasure to welcome Mr David Dein MBE to our Breakfast in The City event this morning as keynote speaker, ahead of what is guaranteed to be a busy St Patrick’s month.
