West Bromwich Albion Football Club is delighted to confirm Managing Director Mark Miles will assume the duties of departing Chief Executive Officer Ron Gourlay.
The experienced executive, who joined the Baggies in July 2003, will oversee all club departments, chairing the Football Technical Board.
Ian Pearce has been appointed Head of Football Operations and will continue to work closely with Head Coach Carlos Corberán.
Miles, 47, served as Operations Director from 2016 and was elected to the Board of Directors in October 2018, before being named Managing Director in 2022.
Mark said: “I am proud and honoured to have been appointed to lead the football club.
“Having spent two decades of my life at The Hawthorns I can assure supporters and staff that I have only ever worked with integrity and in the club’s best interests. This is something I will continue to do.
“There is no escaping the fact the club faces challenges, it’s important I’m clear about that, but I am determined to lead Albion through to a more prosperous period.
“This summer is the first during my 20 years here that we will not receive any income from the Premier League and, in order to maintain stability, the club will need to manage its finances prudently.
“With that in mind, I feel it is only right to be honest with supporters and staff about our plans for the summer.
“While some player sales are inevitable, I also recognise the opportunity this provides us to recruit talented young, hungry, and athletic players. The type of players Carlos and the rest of the football technical board believe are required to achieve success in the Championship.
“We have discussed at length the need to refresh the squad this summer and player sales will help us to achieve that while we also work to balance the books.
“Make no mistake, we will be building a squad equipped to compete for promotion – but sales are necessary in order to increase income and reduce the first-team wage bill.
“Last season’s Championship table evidences the fact that high spending does not always equate with success, and clubs with limited resources, if managed smartly and diligently, can outperform those with bigger budgets.
“In Ian Pearce we have an experienced and knowledgeable football mind who knows what is required to achieve success. His already strong relationship with Carlos will only strengthen as they work together even more closely. They have been working together preparing for this transfer window for some time and are very much on the same page in terms of what the club requires.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ron Gourlay for the advice, counsel and leadership he has provided me during his time at the club and I wish him well in the future.
“I fully understand why supporters are frustrated and fearful, and I will be meeting with representative groups over the coming weeks to continue the football club’s engagement with fans.
“I am optimistic that despite the challenges ahead, we can look forward to a successful season and I am confident our incredible supporters will get right behind Carlos and the team when we meet at The Hawthorns again in August.”