OPERATING BOARD
Head of Finance: Katie Wareham
Katie Wareham has worked at Watford Football Club for over 12 years. For most of that time she worked within the Club's Finance Department.
Currently Katie is responsible of the day-to-day running of the Finance Department as well as supporting the commercial operations and the Board in the execution of its strategic agenda.
Previously Katie has been a leading figure in the Operations side of the Club. In the summer of 2006 she was promoted to the Operating Board in the role of New Projects Director and then Operations Director. That role involved leading the ongoing redevelopment of the Vicarage Road Stadium, as well as assuming responsibility for the management of all Club facilities.
Katie, aged 33, was raised in Watford and educated at Watford Girls Grammar School. She now lives in Croxley Green with her partner Ian and daughters Ami and Elizabeth.
Community Director: Rob Smith
Before becoming Community Director in the summer of 2008, Rob Smith had held 12 years experience with Watford Football Club.
Having started as Assistant Football in the Community Officer, Rob had previously worked with West Ham United and Charlton Athletic's community schemes and had experience of full-time Sports' Development roles.
Rob progressed at Vicarage Road to become an integral part of the community programme's development, and particularly since the inception of the Community Sports and Education Trust in 2004, which he has since gone on to manage, before taking Directorship in the summer of 2008.
Responsibilities include the development of the Trust's Project Manager's and their work, increasing existing and attracting funding and enhancing the positive relationships and partnership established by the Trust as well as developing scope for the Trust to establish new projects.
Rob, aged 40, lives in Hemel Hempstead with his partner Ali, and their two children.
Head of Customer Sales: Michael Jones
Michael Jones has worked for Watford Football Club since 1994, where he began his career with the Club in retail and ticketing.
Having progressed through the ranks Michael went on to lead the ticketing operation at Vicarage Road until the summer of 2007 when he joined the Club's Operating Board as Head of Customer Sales, with further responsibility for retail and catering.
Michael, aged 34, is a Watford fan and was a season ticket holder of long-standing before joining the Club. Living in London Colney, Michael is married to Alex.
Head of Corporate: Raj Athwal
Raj Athwal joined Watford in July of 2008 and holds responsibility for focusing on the commercial aspects of the Club. With the invaluable experience he gained at Coventry City Football Club, over a period of 14 years, he will be looking to bring in fresh ideas to develop long term relationships with the businesses of Hertfordshire and London.
Aged 38, Raj is married to Sharon and has two children.
Head of Marketing: Leigh Brooks
Leigh joined Watford Football Club in June 2007 as a Marketing Consultant and was employed on a full-time basis in July 2008 as Head of Marketing.
In May 2009 she was promoted to the Operating Board as Head of Marketing taking on the additional responsibility of the Media Department.
Leigh is responsible the day-to-day running of the Marketing and Media Department and heads up a team of four people, as well as devising long-term marketing plans for the Hornets.
Prior to working at Watford, Leigh had her own Marketing Consultancy Business where she worked on a number of high profile sporting projects for blue chip companies including the ESFA U13's National Schools' Cup.
Before this Leigh worked for Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd, where she carried out a number of sales and marketing roles over a 10 year period.
Please note: all of these members of Watford Football Club staff are directly contactable via email using the following formula: firstname.lastname@watfordfc.com
