Leadership & Executive Team

Shilen Patel

Chairman, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Mark Miles

Managing Director, West Bromwich Albion

Mark Miles

Mark is the Managing Director of West Bromwich Albion, a statutory director of West Bromwich Albion Football Club Limited, and a Trustee of The Albion Foundation. Mark has more than 20 years’ experience at The Hawthorns and offers unrivaled knowledge of the club, having previously served as Operations Director.

Andrew Nestor

CEO & Sporting Director, Bilkul Football Group

Andrew Nestor

Andrew is CEO and Sporting Director of Bilkul Football Group, and is Sporting Director of West Bromwich Albion. He has vast experience in football club ownership and operations, as well as sports media and IP management. Andrew has been instrumental in the acquisition and growth of Bologna FC 1909, Como 1907, and Tampa Bay Rowdies, who he led to a league championship.

Ashish Patel

Chief Operations Officer, Bilkul Football Group

Ashish Patel

Ashish is the Chief Operating Officer of Bilkul Football Group, specialising in the strategic operations and growth of the organisation. 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.

Ethan Gobetz

Chief Financial Officer, Bilkul Football Group

Ethan Gobetz

Ethan Gobetz serves as Chief Financial Officer of Bilkul Football Group, Concurrently, he is Vice President of Finance at Allied Sports, a leading sports marketing agency. With more than 20 years’ experience in finance roles at WPP, Interpublic Group, and Edelman Worldwide, Ethan brings expertise in strategic planning and mergers & acquisitions.

Ian Pearce

Director of Football Operations, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Ian Skidmore

Director of Communications & Fan Engagement, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Josh Bentley

Director of Finance, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Tony Strudwick

Director of Medical, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Sarah McGenn

Club Secretary, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Rob Lake

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.

Sam Foxall

HR Business Partner, West Bromwich Albion

Sam Foxall

Sam is the HR Business Partner 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.

Tomasz Chadwick

Head of Commercial, West Bromwich Albion

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.

Richard Stevens

Academy Manager, West Bromwich Albion

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.