Lesley Bamberger | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lesley Bamberger 3 June 1965 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Occupations | Property developer, Football administrator |
| Known for | Owner of Kroonenberg Groep Former owner of Almere City FC |
| Title | Owner, Kroonenberg Groep |
| Board member of | AFC Ajax (Supervisory Board) |
| Relatives | Steven Berghuis (son-in-law) |
Lesley Bamberger (born 3 June 1965) is a Dutch billionaire businessman and football administrator. He is the owner of Kroonenberg Groep, a privately held real estate company founded by his grandfather, Jacob Kroonenberg. [1] [2]
In football, Bamberger is known for his fifteen-year ownership of Almere City FC, overseeing their historic first promotion to the Eredivisie. In late 2025, he was nominated to the Supervisory Board (Raad van Commissarissen) of AFC Ajax.
Bamberger joined Kroonenberg Groep in 1986 and inherited the company in 1996 following his grandfather's death. [1] Under his leadership, the company's portfolio expanded significantly; Kroonenberg Groep owns retail, industrial, and residential property across the Netherlands and the United States. [1]
Through Kroonenberg Groep, Bamberger became the owner of the football club Almere City FC (formerly FC Omniworld) in 2010. [3] Under his ownership, the club stabilized financially and professionalized its organization. This culminated in the 2022–23 season when Almere City secured promotion to the Eredivisie for the first time in the club's history via the promotion/relegation play-offs.
In 2025, Bamberger agreed to sell his shares in Almere City FC to the Japanese multinational Yanmar, a long-time sponsor of the club. The takeover was completed on 31 October 2025, ending Bamberger's 15-year tenure as owner. [4]
Bamberger is a long-time member of the association of AFC Ajax. In late 2025, following a period of administrative restructuring at the club, he was nominated for a position on the Supervisory Board (Raad van Commissarissen). [5] His nomination was intended to bring commercial expertise and knowledge of the club's culture to the board.
Bamberger lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands. [1] His daughter is in a relationship with Dutch international footballer Steven Berghuis, who plays for AFC Ajax. [6]
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