Leadership & Executive Team
Chairman
Shilen Patel
Shilen is the Chairman and a statutory director of West Bromwich Albion. He concurrently serves as Chairman, President, and Cofounder of Bilkul Football Group, overseeing the group’s strategic vision and leadership. A seasoned entrepreneur and investor, Shilen has led significant ventures across technology, healthcare, and real estate.
Executive Director
Mark Miles
Mark rejoined the board of West Bromwich Albion as Executive Director in February 2026, having previously committed 22 years to the club. He served as Managing Director, leading the club through its 2024 takeover by Bilkul Football Group. As Executive Director, Mark provides oversight and governance to all areas of the club, in addition to direct leadership and external facing duties.
Chief Marketing Officer
Ashish Patel
Ashish is Chief Marketing Officer of West Bromwich Albion, specialising in strategic growth of consumer and commercial operations. A cofounder of Cerro Capital, a sports investment firm, he has significant experience in global sports IP, media, and content. Ashish previously held senior roles at Group Nine Media and VICE. Ashish is a member of Bilkul Football Group.
Chief Financial Officer
Ethan Gobetz
Ethan Gobetz is Chief Financial Officer of West Bromwich Albion. With more than 20 years’ experience in various finance roles across the marketing, advertising and sports industries, Ethan brings expertise in strategic planning as well as mergers & acquisitions. Ethan is a member of Bilkul Football Group.
Non-Executive Director
Jason Roberts
Jason joined the board of West Bromwich Albion as a Non-Executive Director in April 2026, providing independent oversight and constructive feedback, contributing his extensive experience of English and international football to inform club strategy, planning and decision making. Jason is Chief Football Development Officer at Concacaf and holds board roles with the Jason Roberts Foundation, the Advisory Foundation in Support of Football for the Goals and the Global Institute of Sport.
Director of Operations and SHE (Safety, Health and Environment)
Chris Harris
Chris Harris is Director of Operations and SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) at West Bromwich Albion. As a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Chris has over thirty years’ experience in health and safety operations management across a variety of industries. Chris has been instrumental in setting out the club’s operational policies and is the Head of Baggies Pastures Green, the club’s sustainability working group.
Director of Football Operations
Ian Pearce
Ian is the Director of Football Operations of West Bromwich Albion. He joined the club in November 2018, having previously worked as a scout at Brighton & Hove Albion. As a player he represented West Ham United, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers, where he won the 1994/95 Premier League title.
Technical Director
Dominic Price
Dominic joined West Bromwich Albion as Technical Director in March 2026, following a three-year tenure in the same role at Maccabi Tel-Aviv. He oversees the club’s academy, analysis, medical and sports science departments, while further developing strategies for squad planning, player pathways, football technology and football administration. Dominic previously served as Head of Performance Analysis at Blackpool and First-Team Analyst at Liverpool.
Chief Business Officer
Sam Jeffery
Sam is the Chief Business Officer at West Bromwich Albion. Sam arrived at The Hawthorns in March 2026 from Norwich City, where he served as Commercial Director and an Executive Committee Member. Prior to his nine years at Carrow Road, Sam was Head of Commercial at Cambridge United. Sam leads on revenue generation across the club, including partnerships, retail, hospitality and conferencing and events sales, while also enhancing Albion’s international presence and driving wider commercial growth.
Director of Communications & Fan Engagement
Ian Skidmore
Ian is the Director of Communications & Fan Engagement of West Bromwich Albion and a Trustee of The Albion Foundation. A long-serving employee from an Albion-supporting family, Ian leads club strategy on communications, fan engagement and ticketing. Away from The Hawthorns, he serves as a Trustee of Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall.
Commercial Legal Counsel
Richard Parnell
Richard is the Commercial Legal Counsel of West Bromwich Albion and a solicitor with more than 25 years’ experience. He joined the club in May 2025, having previously worked in private practice for 15 years before holding in-house legal roles with both Sunderland AFC and Lincoln City.
Director of Finance
Josh Bentley
Josh is the Director of Finance of West Bromwich Albion, a position he took up in September 2024, having previously served as Financial Controller. A qualified accountant, Josh arrived in May 2023 having previously worked in the manufacturing and aerospace sector.
Director of Medical
Tony Strudwick
Tony is the Director of Medical of West Bromwich Albion. He has overseen the club’s medical and sports science departments since arriving at The Hawthorns in July 2022. Tony has significant football experience having worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, in addition to similar roles at Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal, in addition to international work with England and Wales.
Club Secretary
Sarah McGenn
Sarah is the Club Secretary of West Bromwich Albion. Sarah has more than 25 years’ administrative experience at The Hawthorns, having started her career with The Albion Foundation. Sarah was appointed Club Secretary in October 2022 and is responsible for the club’s administrative and secretarial functions.
Director, The Albion Foundation
Rob Lake
Rob Lake is the Director of The Albion Foundation, the charitable arm of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. Rob has led the Foundation since his arrival from Middlesbrough in 2008. Rob has helped build The Albion Foundation’s reputation as a leading football community programme, for which it earned the Championship Community Club of the Season title at the EFL Community Awards 2024.
Director of Human Resources
Sam Foxall
Sam is the Director of Human Resources of West Bromwich Albion and a Trustee of The Albion Foundation. Sam is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Sam arrived at The Hawthorns in August 2021 and has acquired more than a decade of human resources experience.
Head of Commercial
Tomasz Chadwick
Tomasz is the Head of Commercial of West Bromwich Albion. He oversees the club’s hospitality, partnerships and conference and events departments. Tomasz, who joined the club in 2017, has prior commercial experience in football from spells with Hull City and Leeds United.
Academy Manager
Richard Stevens
Richard is the Academy Manager of West Bromwich Albion. He arrived at The Hawthorns in October 2019, having occupied the same role during a successful 12-year term at Coventry City, where he helped nurture the talents of England internationals James Maddison and Callum Wilson.