Sunderland are restructuring their commercial operation as they bid to bolster their revenues

Sunderland have announced a restructure behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light, with Chief Commercial Officer Ashley Peden set to depart in the new year.

Peden has been at the club for three years and his role is not set to be directly replaced, with the club instead confirming that work is already under way to appoint a Chief Revenue Officer in the new year. They say that appointment will be in charge of all commercial and marketing

Scott McCubbin has taken on the role on an interim basis, as part of his wider responsibilities within the Bia Sports Group. The Bia Sports Group is the umbrella operation through which Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori manage their sports business portfolio, including their investments in supercross and and rugby sevens. Its influence on the club's operations has grown significantly in recent times, with Mike Papadimitriou appointed Chief Financial Officer earlier this year as part of his wider responsibilities in the group.

Chief Business Officer David Bruce thanked Peden for his efforts in a statement on Friday morning.

“First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude to Ash for his hard work and partnership throughout the last three years," Bruce said.

"He has played an instrumental role in elevating the Club from League One to the Premier League and in developing an environment that will ensure a stronger SAFC for many years to come. We wish him well in the next chapter of his career and will always look forward to welcoming him back to the Stadium of Light."

The new post of Chief Revenue Officer underlines the growing importance to the club of driving up its revenues in order to reinvest in the team, with new rules set to come into place next season whereby a club can only spend 85% of what it generates on first team costs. The new appointment will be seen as a crucial one in ensuring the club can be competitive in the top tier in the long run, and in capitalising on the growing interest in the club as it soars on the pitch.

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Ashley Peden issues statement on his imminent Sunderland departure

Peden said he wished the club the very best for the future.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sunderland AFC," Peden said.

"I couldn’t have asked for more from the people or the region, and although it is an old cliché, this is a Club that really gets under your skin. I leave immensely proud of the progress we have made during my time leading our retail, partnership, and premium operations alongside David, and for the support of an excellent wider staff as we established a thriving partner network regionally, nationally, and globally. The Club is in exceptional hands moving forward, and I wish the staff and supporters the very best for the future."

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