West Bromwich Albion are delighted to confirm Bilkul Football Group CEO Andrew Nestor has assumed the responsibilities of the Sporting Director role at the club, offering support across all its football functions.
Nestor will continue to work alongside Head of Football Operations Ian Pearce, the club’s board, and club administration, with a focus on evolving the sporting strategy for long-term success throughout key areas such as the men's and women's first teams, academy, sporting data and recruitment.
Andrew and Bilkul Football Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Ashish Patel, were active members of the ownership group prior to its acquisition of the club and have been involved in club operations since the takeover.
Nestor’s immediate focus at the club has been the men's first-team squad, in particular planning strategy, supporting operations and recruitment, led by Ian Pearce, and the men’s first-team technical staff, led by Carlos Corberán.
Andrew has built an extensive career in sport, beginning more than 15 years ago when he revived the Tampa Bay Rowdies, serving as President, CEO and General Manager, which included overseeing all player and coaching recruitment, and led to them winning the 2012 NASL championship in just their third season.
He was also a key player in the takeover by the current owners of Italian side Bologna FC 1909, who were relegated from Serie A prior to the change in ownership. Andrew initially oversaw operational transformation across sporting and commercial departments as the team secured an immediate return to top-flight by winning the Serie B 2014-15 play-off final. Andrew spent two seasons as a Bologna FC 1909 director and has acted as an advisor for several other professional teams and ownership groups across the Americas and European football.
In addition, Andrew and Ashish are co-founders of Cerro Capital, a sports investment company whose portfolio includes Religion of Sports, an Emmy-award winning media company, as well as being a partner in the X Games, the action sports company founded by ESPN, whose lead investors are MSP Sports Capital, the controlling owner of McLaren Racing, and skateboarding icon Tony Hawk.
Chairman Shilen Patel said: “Andrew brings experiences from working across all aspects of football club operations and doing so in various parts of the world.
“He aligns with and will implement Bilkul’s philosophies around running a competitive and sustainable club in a global marketplace.
“He has been driving the change in Albion’s short and long-term strategy along with its philosophy this summer and has been at the forefront of our work with the EFL before and after Bilkul’s acquisition of the club.”
Andrew Nestor added: "Since Bilkul Football Group's acquisition of the club earlier this year, we have always acknowledged that this would be an important summer for the evolution of the men's first-team squad and that has been my immediate focus.
“Our aim is to transition the club through its past financial troubles, building around a consistent game model and strategy. We are implementing effective trading policies, recruitment practices and building resources to support Ian Pearce and our football senior management as we invest in and develop the core of our men’s first team. We also look forward to extending these resources and best practices into our academy and newly integrated women’s first team.
“We have been fully aware of the challenges and opportunities that we have in front of us here. We must operate within certain PSR constraints due to the Club’s past financial losses and decisions, but it should not be daunting to any of us. We continue to work through the current transfer window with a view to strengthening the club for the present and the long-term.”