Mark joined Brentford FC over seven years ago, in July 2011, and has served the club exceptionally well ever since as Chief Executive. I have known Mark for over twenty years when I worked closely with him during his time as Commercial Marketing Director and then CEO at QPR and Wasps when I was a sponsorship consultant representing the interest of my client, the clubs’ main sponsor Ericsson.
I always found him good to deal with. He knew his stuff inside out, communicated well, understood what a sponsor was looking for, balanced our interest with that of the club and best of all kept his word and never over promised.
He was one of the best Commercial Directors of a rights holder that I had dealt with during my time in sponsorship and I always hoped that one day he would find his way to the Promised Land at Griffin Park.
Eventually that moment came a few years after Mark had experienced near tragedy when he along with his son, Stan and Mike Sullivan were among six people on board a light aircraft that crashed at Denham Golf Course when on their way back from Swindon Town’s match at Hartlepool.
He fought his way back to health and after a spell out of the game and a brief period at Notts County he was invited to join Brentford FC.
His spell at the club spans its rise from mid table mediocrity in the Third Division to where the club finds itself now, perhaps on the brink of the Premier League with a massively enhanced profile and reputation for innovation.
Mark has played a major role in the club’s growth and success and commercial revenues and season ticket numbers are now at their peak. He had also been heavily involved in the forthcoming move to the new community stadium at Lionel Road.
Mark has proved himself to be an exceptionally good CEO who has always been keen to listen to and communicate with the fan base. He has always been a good friend to Bees United and done his best to further our interests.
Bees United wishes Mark all the best for the future and thanks him for everything he has done for the club. On a personal basis I will greatly miss someone who I both like and respect.