GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 15: Celtic chairman Ian Bankier (L) and chief executive Dom McKay during the Premier Sports Cup match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian on August 15, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Dom McKay will remain one of the great modern mysteries of Celtic.
For 72 days he was Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the greatest transfer window in the club’s history but suddenly at the September 2021 international break he was gone, replaced by a team player in Michael Nicholson.
The ‘leading sports lawyer’ stepped up initially on an interim basis but it was no surprise that soon after the 2021 AGM Nicholson was announced as CEO on a permanent basis, 12 months later Celtic announced that Peter Lawwell would be taking over as Chairman.
It was almost as if McKay had never even sat in the CEO office.
But his legacy remains, McKay delivered high quality signings that produced success on the park and crucially for the suits massive profits in the transfer market.
Liel Abada was the first signing, followed by Kyogo Furuhashi and Carl Starfelt. Joe Hart and James McCarthy were signed soon after the SPFL opener ended in a 2-1 defeat away to Hearts. Josip Juranovic was next.
Kris Ajer had already been sold but Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie were regulars in the team through until the end of August when they were sold with Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Giorgos Giakoumakis brought in on Deadline Day.
By comparison two years later Celtic signed Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Yang-hyun-jun, Maik Nawrocki, Gus Lagerbielke and Luis Palma, all on five year contracts.
McKay never got to see his three final signings in his role as CEO, he left quietly on September 10 with only rumours over the reasons for his departure.
Soon afterwards he returned to a job in Scottish Rugby, a tweet over night revealed that he is now back working in Glasgow, managing three venues that many Celtic fans will be very familiar with.
A whole range of events now fall under McKay’s management, in 2024 Celtic held their Player of the Year awards night at the Hydro, whether they will be negotiating a deal for the 2026 event remains to be seen.
Did not know that Dom McKay runs the Hydro. pic.twitter.com/8TjNPNBzAE
— Stand up for Celtic (@StandForCeltic) September 30, 2025
In January the OVO Hydro announced the appointment of their new CEO with:
Dominic has a wealth of experience across some of Europe’s most dynamic organisations, including EPCR, where he established a new strategy for the organisation as well as leading the Board and Executive in the development and growth of the Investec European Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup across Europe and South Africa.
He was also CEO at Celtic Football Club and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Scottish Rugby Union for 13 years, leading the development of the organisation into a modern, consumer focused sporting and entertainment business delivering world class major sporting events.
He also attracted major live entertainment promoters and performers and more than doubled Scottish Rugby’s commercial revenues and regularly ensured major events and international sporting fixtures took place in front of sell out crowds at Murrayfield National Stadium.
McKay said:
I am delighted to be joining the SEC as Chief Executive Officer at such an exciting time as the Board looks to the future to develop the SEC and its iconic venues.
I have been impressed by the ambition and determination of the Board to build on the SEC’s outstanding pedigree as a truly world class entertainment and events destination with its incredible venues; OVO Hydro, SEC Armadillo and SEC Centre.
I look forward to working with the Board and leading the team to establish a new strategy that will include exciting new development plans for the campus while ensuring the SEC and its venues continue to be a thriving destination for the world’s greatest musicians, performers and international and national events.
The SEC rightly has a fantastic reputation putting Glasgow and Scotland firmly on the global entertainment stage and for delivering an outstanding experience for customers across all of its venues.
I look forward to working with the whole team, the Board and the wider stakeholders to develop the SEC for the future.
CLICK HERE for Dermot Desmond’s defence of the Alfred Dunhill Cup.
You might be guilty of rewriting history Joe. The recent quote from Ange about difficulties getting transfers completed was with McKay as CEO. I’m not defending Nicholson by any stretch, far from it, but I believe the club’s problems are bigger than one man, at least maybe not that man. At the least, Dom McKay was qualified for the role, unlike his successor.
Editor: I prefer facts to hindsight, McKay got things over the line, his successor hasn’t a clue how to recruit but will sell anyone at any time for any price because he couldn’t care less for the team sheet #penaltytorangers
Ange’s agent, Frank Trimboli was very influential in transfer activities, McKay was smart enough to work with him rather than looking to get players through longer term favoured agents.
Fair points Joe, but my point remains, there is still no robust recruitment department. Especially one that will have a final say above whichever CEO is in place.
Editor: Agreed. McKay came in as a complete outsider and delivered results, Nicholson has been in house for years and progressed nothing at all. A robust Recruitment Department isn’t going to be set up within a club where virtually everyone was recruited by big Peter or his clone Nicholson.
Dom may have got his very own ‘UB40’ from Celtic, but Mick Hucknall now looks like Rita Fairclough.
“…He was also CEO at Celtic Football Club and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Scottish Rugby Union for 13 years…”
Nicely written. 🙂
It’s a timely reminder that our club desperately needs fresh blood in the Boardroom,
and ideally, capable, accomplished professionals who have zero connections to the
club or DD, PL or anyone else there…?
Well, compare and contrast with Dom McKay, Lawwell and Nicholson.
Exactly, only ONE has experience and ambition, hence only ONE deserves to be called by his forename too!
Lawwell’s the problem and NEVER been anything else. A bloated face and body to go with his bloated ego and income. He MUST be 1st out the door. Nicholson is just a talentless glove puppet of Lawwell’s and he MUST go too.
Hopefully the new CFC will gain traction and see these two off the premises. Desmond, if he’s embarrassed enough, will leave and whilst I’d rather he just ‘read the room’ and offer his huge shareholding to supporters by fair means or foul is okay with me. Somebody suggesteded on here or another Tim site recently that “bed sheets at the golf” would be a good idea. I think it would be a great beginning to a very apt end.
Celtic FC to be run and owned by Celtic supporters, my recurring dream over the last several and a half decades!