New CEO

[Southampton Gull]

https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/spo ... nited.html

Torquay United have announced the appointment of Mark Thomas as its new Chief Executive Officer.

The club statement said: This appointment follows an extensive four-month national and international recruitment process led by Red Star Search and overseen by the Club’s Board, during which a shortlist of six outstanding candidates were interviewed. Mark emerged as the standout choice due to his exceptional track record in commercial strategy, sports business development and team leadership.

Mark brings a wealth of international experience to Plainmoor. A former elite rugby player who transitioned into sports marketing, Mark has founded and led successful ventures in China and Europe, including the S2M Group and S2M Consulting.

He has managed high-performance teams of over 100 people, overseen the commercial operations of major sporting venues, and developed innovative strategies for international rightsholders, including FIFA, AC Milan, British Swimming, and World Rowing. His work has spanned football, rugby, motorsport, and global tournaments, including roles advising and delivering partnerships for the FIFA World Cup.
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A fluent Mandarin speaker and globally connected entrepreneur, Mark has negotiated multi-million-pound deals, developed grassroots and elite-level sports programmes, and driven media and digital strategies for global sports and entertainment clients. His recent roles include supporting the commercial relaunch of the Inala musical in the West End and developing high-end hospitality experiences for Formula 1 in Shanghai.

Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Co-Chairman of Torquay United, commented: “Mark Thomas brings a truly international perspective to the role, combined with deep experience in sports partnerships and commercial innovation. His ability to think differently about revenue generation, sponsorship, digital strategy, and fan engagement makes him ideally placed to lead the next phase of our journey.”

Michael Westcott, Co-Chairman, added: “After a year of rebuilding and laying firm foundations at Plainmoor, the Consortium felt it was time to challenge the status quo. Mark stood out for his ability to build high-performing teams, his commercial creativity, and his plans to elevate the Torquay United brand across new and diverse channels. If we want success on the pitch, we must build a robust and scalable business off it—and reducing our reliance on match-day revenue is key. Mark's innovative approach to that challenge really impressed us.”

The Board would like to extend its deepest thanks to Joe Lovell, who has served as CEO on a part-time basis during our first year under the Bryn Consortium. Joe’s leadership has helped steer the club through a transformative period, which included record attendances—our highest in 50 years—the successful exit from the Company Voluntary Arrangement, and a significant uplift in our commercial performance and community engagement.

[Dave_Pougher]

Saw this announced yesterday and trying to decide how I feel about it. Not going to lie, the first thought that came into my head was Colin Lee lol (apologies) only because the aforementioned cost us a great deal and brought little benefit, one might even say he was a negative asset.

I trust the consortium implicitly and I’m assuming his remit will be to run the club professionally & maximise revenue streams through avenues that layman like us wouldn’t even think of.

What a pleasure it is to see the direction we now travel.

[happytorq]

Saw this announced yesterday and trying to decide how I feel about it. Not going to lie, the first thought that came into my head was Colin Lee lol (apologies) only because the aforementioned cost us a great deal and brought little benefit, one might even say he was a negative asset.

I've no idea what a CEO at a football club makes, but you can be reasonably sure that it's not peanuts. So you'd have to ask me that the ones have brought him in on the form belief that he'll increase revenues. I'd not be surprised if he also has some sort of commission deal whereby he gets X per cent on any additional revenue over Y amount. That's fine by me. If he does a great job, everybody benefits.

[Taelee73]

This must have been one of those conversations where the owner’s business minds overwrote their football ones, do we up the playing budget, do we give the assistant coach a full time contract (I read he’s part time) or do we bring in someone to push the whole financial side of the club forward.

If within a time frame he brings in continued substantial increases in income then it’s a sound move that not only sets us up to be sustainable but may give us options like ground upgrades, transfer fees, higher salaries for incoming players, was Colin Lee’s role the same?

You’d assume he’d have projected targets and maybe a base salary that will be increased if they are met, and I assume his salary will make him the highest paid member of staff, but if he brings in the kind of income to take us to the next level then no one will complain. I think it will be very beneficial if any ‘wins’ he gets us are communicated to us as supporters like myself will moan that our ST increases aren’t being well spent if we don’t see results.

He has a great background, so hopefully this is a very shrewd move by the club.

[culmstockgull]

No problem with having a CEO especially one that knows the sports business, anything like Colin Lee, I certainly hope not, I agree with the owners ideas to utimately move away from match day reveniue as the single biggest revenue stream, the fact remains, Torbay is not Mayfair and there is only so much revenue you can leverage at a local level.

[tufc100]

This must have been one of those conversations where the owner’s business minds overwrote their football ones, do we up the playing budget, do we give the assistant coach a full time contract (I read he’s part time) or do we bring in someone to push the whole financial side of the club forward.

If within a time frame he brings in continued substantial increases in income then it’s a sound move that not only sets us up to be sustainable but may give us options like ground upgrades, transfer fees, higher salaries for incoming players, was Colin Lee’s role the same?

You’d assume he’d have projected targets and maybe a base salary that will be increased if they are met, and I assume his salary will make him the highest paid member of staff, but if he brings in the kind of income to take us to the next level then no one will complain. I think it will be very beneficial if any ‘wins’ he gets us are communicated to us as supporters like myself will moan that our ST increases aren’t being well spent if we don’t see results.

He has a great background, so hopefully this is a very shrewd move by the club.

Pretty sure the assistant coach is full time.

[Gulliball]

He is next season, was part-time last season. Was mentioned during one of the Chairman's Chats.

[Bristol_Gull]

Sounds like we've managed to pull off a coup here and punching above our weight with Mark's appointment - shows the clubs ambition.

[Modgull]

This looks like a very positive development - a guy with excellent credentials to lead the commercial side of the club and the development of a 24/7 business.

I have to say that the consortium continues to inspire confidence in me - I thought the latest Chairman's chat was totally reassuring that we continue on the road to sustainable success.

I am sure there will be those who consider any investment in anything but the playing budget to be a lost opportunity but this misses the point that playing success must be built on firm financial foundations. I don't want to see our Club in the same straights as last year ever again.

[Southampton Gull]

I've taken nothing but positives from all the boards decisions since taking over. They rightly target promotion bur at the same time they're playing safe with the club's future. They've put their faith in the manager and while it's no secret I'm not a fan he's done more than enough to justify their faith in him.

They've addressed the season ticket issues raised by some and taken responsibility while explaining their reasons which can't reasonably be argued against.

Now we see this appointment and who can possibly sew it in a negative light. In years to come I'm sure they will see the club in a loftier position and on a sustainable footing. Added to all of this they've given fans back their attachment to the club.

10 out of 10 from me.

[Taelee73]

I agree they have got virtually every decision correct, although not with the rationale of forcing parents and their children to move from Bristows to the Family stand or pay hugely inflated prices. If we get 3-4000 regularly next season, then there is enough space for full paying supporters in Bristows as well as the kids. If we’re getting 6000 a game and still not making money then something is wrong. It is totally unacceptable saying that ‘we all need to do our bit’ we already do with the most likely highest prices in non league football, on a par with a lot of FL clubs, imagine the prices if we get to the FL. It’s worrying that they haven’t said these current prices are fixed for the season after as well.

The Family Stand is inferior for its view of a game, people like to sit where they have done for years, especially more so if you start bringing your children along, again it’s easy to comment on things if it’s not your seat that they’re asking you to move from. I’m lucky my son has no interest in football (yet) I wouldn’t be moving from Bristows if he did though, I’d have to find the extra money and lose a little of my love for Torquay United.

On the appointment of a new CEO, as long as he brings in more money on a long term basis then of course it’s a great thing, just galling that we’re not yet breaking even and I assume we are now paying him the highest salary in the club.

[PainInTheGULLiver85]

At first I was gutted at the price hike but I've renewed and do believe in the ownership and Bryn and how they've done so far is excellent. Not seen anything near it as a tufc fan since early 90s. The fact the club even has the home attendances like this is a testament to everyone including the owners

[Southampton Gull]

I agree they have got virtually every decision correct, although not with the rationale of forcing parents and their children to move from Bristows to the Family stand or pay hugely inflated prices. If we get 3-4000 regularly next season, then there is enough space for full paying supporters in Bristows as well as the kids. If we’re getting 6000 a game and still not making money then something is wrong. It is totally unacceptable saying that ‘we all need to do our bit’ we already do with the most likely highest prices in non league football, on a par with a lot of FL clubs, imagine the prices if we get to the FL. It’s worrying that they haven’t said these current prices are fixed for the season after as well.

The Family Stand is inferior for its view of a game, people like to sit where they have done for years, especially more so if you start bringing your children along, again it’s easy to comment on things if it’s not your seat that they’re asking you to move from. I’m lucky my son has no interest in football (yet) I wouldn’t be moving from Bristows if he did though, I’d have to find the extra money and lose a little of my love for Torquay United.

On the appointment of a new CEO, as long as he brings in more money on a long term basis then of course it’s a great thing, just galling that we’re not yet breaking even and I assume we are now paying him the highest salary in the club.

They explained their reasoning for doing so and it boils down to finances. If we want a club run sustainably then that's the decision that had to be made. Move on and be thankful for getting it on the cheap as long as its been possible. It can't all be positive if changes are forced on us.

Suck it up buttercup.

[North Curry House]

I have it on good authority from someone who is close to the Directors and advised them last season, that the CEO is on 75k per annum. He will have to bring in considerably more than that to warrant his employment. I hope he has more idea than past (and present) Commercial personnel and looks after those backing the Club. I know of several disgruntled former sponsors, who have"walked away" because of lack of professional transparency. He appears an excellent man for the position but may have his work cut out, I hope he will be allowed to recruit a hard working team, with no weak links. I wish him well.

[TUFC67]

If he's come in for circa 75K, I imagine that's the first time he's worked for a 5-figure salary in a long while. He's clearly got a massive pedigree and hopefully has the contacts to improve the club's earning potential.

Having watched the Chairmen's Chat episodes I think they have articulated the challenges and funding pressures really well. If you supported a club with a small infrastructure, but with a big benefactor, the budget natuarally goes further than ours. The funding of our success is a collaboration that we should all cherish.