The Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Guy Wolfenden as the Exeter City’s new Chief Executive Officer. Guy will begin work with the Grecians on October 1st 2013.
Guy joins the Club from Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he has been in charge of commercial operations, matchdays and marketing operations. He previously fulfilled a similar role with Somerset County Cricket Club.
During his tenure at both clubs, Guy has overseen the delivery of significant improvements and performance in all aspects of the business under his remit, culminating in Warwickshire County Cricket Club hosted the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in June and the T20 Finals at their Edgbaston Ground last weekend.
Guy will take on the full Chief Executive function at Exeter City as the most senior member of staff and head of all operations.
Guy is 40 years old and lives in Taunton and is married with three children. He was an accomplished sportsman in his own right in his younger days and has built his career in professional sports management and is passionate about developing organisations to maximise their potential.
After the departure of Norrie Stewart in 2011, Julian Tagg agreed to the Board’s request to take on both his existing role of Executive Director Football and that of acting Chief Executive for a period of two years to give the Board time to reflect on the best way forward. It is now more than two years since that temporary arrangement came into existence.
As time has progressed, the combined workload has increased to the extent that it is vital that there is now a restructuring of the senior management roles within the Club to set the framework for further progress on and off the field.
Julian’s revised role will be mostly centred on working with Paul Tisdale, Steve Perryman and the coaching staff to develop a structure and methods of working to equip us for future success. He will also be the responsible director for the Centre of Excellence (Academy) and the Football in the Community Charity. Julian will remain as a main Board director and Vice Chairman of the Club.
On his appointment Guy Wolfenden said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to take up the role of Chief Executive at Exeter City. I am genuinely excited to be able to work with the Supporters’ Trust, Board and all the Staff to continue to build on the fantastic supporter and commercial support the Grecians currently enjoy and to continue providing exciting football for all to watch.”
The Club Chairman Edward Chorlton OBE welcomed Guy’s appointment and in doing paid tribute to way in which Julian Tagg had taken on the almost impossible task the Board had placed on his shoulders over the past 27 months.
Julian Tagg, Club Vice Chairman and Executive Director Football said: “It has been a privilege and pleasure to have responded to the request to the work on an interim basis with the current boards, staff and volunteers to ensure stability and continuity across the whole club for the last two plus years whilst work continued towards this latest progression of the club’s evolution. Guy’s introduction will bring vast experience and drive which will allow him singular focus on Commercial, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Communications meaning I can return my focus to my first loves at Exeter City – the Youth Academy , Football in the Community and Football, where there is much to be done. I remain fully committed to the cause, to continuing to deliver my best as a member of the Board of the Club, and very much look forward to working with Guy.”
Laurence Overend, the Chair of the Supporters’ Trust, who was involved in the recruitment process said: “On behalf of the Trust, I am very pleased to be able to welcome Guy to the Club. When speaking with Guy I have been struck by his enthusiasm and commitment to supporter engagement. He has a proven track record in the commercial field of sport and although his background is in cricket, he clearly grasped the issues that are involved in being the CEO of a supporters-owned League Football Club. I have no doubt he will be very successful in his new role.”
In planning for this appointment, and considering that it will be Guy’s role to allow the Club to undertake the next phase of its succession plans in various parts of its off-pitch structure, the Club and Trust have ensured that the costs involved in appointing Guy have been appropriately and adequately budgeted for. In addition, Guy’s compensation package has a bias towards rewarding performance over and above the current baseline budget being worked to so Guy will be keen to deliver in line with our shared expectations for moving the Club forward.