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Abramovich aide on the rise at Chelsea as chief executive quits(City A.M. (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) SHE IS the former PA who has risen to a key role in the boardroom of one of Europe's biggest football clubs, and now Marina Granovskaia's influence at Chelsea is about to grow even further. The Russian-Canadian, a longtime associate of Blues owner Roman Abramovich, is to take on greater responsibility for the running of the west London club following yesterday's resignation of chief executive Ron Gourlay. Granovskaia, who will share additional duties with chairman Bruce Buck, has been employed by Abramovich since 1997 and moved to England shortly after his £140m takeover in 2003. She has worked at the oligarch's former company Sibneft and as his PA, but has been an increasingly influential figure at Chelsea since 2010, and is credited with helping to rehire current manager Jose Mourinho last year. (c) 2014 City A.M. |