Leeann Dempster confirmed in new role at Queen's Park, hopes to add more Hampden highlights after Hibs' 2016 Scottish Cup

Hibs Chief Executive Leeann Dempster (left) and major shareholder Ron Gordon during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Hibs and Hearts at Easter Road on March 03, 2020 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)

Dempster spent six years with Hibs, moving to the then-Championship side from Motherwell before the club restored its position back in the top flight and landed the 2016 Scottish Cup – a career highlight through her 13 years in football, she said.

She bowed out at Easter Road in November with Hibs fourth in the Premiership and said it was ‘the right time’ to pass on the baton. Her departure was met with a slew of well-wishers for the job she had done.

Now, she has a fresh challenge with the ambitious League Two Spiders – who ditched their amateur status a year ago and have sold off Hampden to move next-door into Lesser Hampden.

Career highlight: Hibernian Chairman Rod Petrie (left) hoists the Scottish Cup with Chief Executive Leeann Dempster

Queen’s Park say the move reflects ‘the club’s ambition to create a successful, innovative, and exciting future’.

Club President David Hunter said: “The appointment of one of Scottish football’s best regarded CEOs will accelerate our plans to take the club forward on an off the pitch.

“Leeann has led two Premiership clubs, at Motherwell and at Hibernian, enjoying significant success at both. This appointment is driven by our desire to ensure the progress made on the field is supported with a structure designed to deliver on our strategic objectives, on and off the field”.

Dempster reflected on her Hibs role as she was appointed and added: “I have loved every moment of my time in football and winning the Scottish Cup with Hibs was a career highlight. But after 13 years of running clubs in the Premier League I was ready for a new challenge and Queen’s Park offers an amazing opportunity.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster spent six years at Easter Road.

“This is the oldest club in Scotland, so it already has a unique place in the game.

“Anyone who knows me understands I want to create clubs that supporters are proud of on and off the pitch. Already real progress is being made on the pitch. The community part of clubs, the ability to touch lives through what we do, has always been a big appeal to me and Queen’s Park has big plans which we will reveal as we move forward.

“I’m excited to be here and looking forward to getting on with the work.”

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.If you haven't already, please consider supporting our sports coverage with a digital sports subscription.