Cardiff Met FC Announces Newly Established Board of Directors
- Damian Burgess
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
Cardiff Met FC has confirmed the appointment of its newly established Board of Directors, marking a significant milestone in the Club’s ongoing strategic evolution.
Following a rigorous recruitment process, the eleven-member Board comprises eight Non-Executive Directors, two University-appointed Directors and the Club’s Chairperson. Collectively, they bring extensive expertise across governance, elite sport, commercial strategy, communications, finance, law, performance and people development.
The announcement comes as the Archers continue to deliver against the strategic commitments outlined in the Club’s Five-Year Development Plan.
The Board will work in close partnership with Director of Football Systems, Dr Chris Baker, to advance the strategic objectives set out in the Club’s long-term plan.
Members convened for the first time last week at The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, where they were introduced to the Club’s vision, structure and long-term direction.
The establishment of the Board forms part of a refreshed governance and management framework at Cardiff Met FC. Alongside this, the Club has launched its Academi Forum and a series of focused working groups aligned to key strategic pillars:
Commercial growth
Community engagement
Operations
Performance
This progressive structure reflects Cardiff Met FC’s ambition to professionalise its operations while strengthening its position within Welsh domestic football.
Tomos Lewis, Partner at a national law firm specialising in commercial and public sector law, has been appointed Chairperson.
Tomos brings significant governance experience, having previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Welsh Gymnastics and sat on judicial panels for Swim England, the FAW and BUCS.
Speaking on his appointment, he said:
“The breadth of knowledge and experience across our Board will be instrumental in supporting the continued growth of Cardiff Met FC. The Club holds tremendous potential, and I am honoured to represent it at such a defining period for Welsh domestic football.”
The Board brings together senior leaders from across Welsh and UK sport, higher education, governance and commercial leadership.
Members include:
Ben O’Connell, Director of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Professor Katie Thirlaway, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost
Dr Kerry Harris, Senior Lecturer and former Cardiff Met WFC Performance Director
Ian Davis, commercial leader at Glamorgan Cricket and former FAW Chief Commercial Officer
Joanna King, HR leader at the WRU
James Williams, CEO of Welsh Athletics
Emma Smith, strategic communications specialist
Gwyn Derfel, former General Manager of the JD Cymru Premier
Adrian Coles, growth finance and board advisor
Russell Hullett, UEFA A Licensed coach and former Premier League academy leader
Collectively, their experience spans national governing bodies, elite football academies, commercial transformation projects and governance reform across the Welsh sporting ecosystem.
Reflecting on the milestone, Dr Chris Baker described the formation of the Board as a defining moment for the Club:
“The establishment of this Board represents a defining moment for Cardiff Met FC. The quality and depth of expertise assembled reflect our clear ambition to elevate the Club’s profile, professionalism and performance.”
He added:
“As we continue to harness our distinctive dual-career model and pursue our ambition to become the UK’s leading destination for dual-career footballers, we must ensure that on-field success and off-field excellence are inextricably linked.”
With a strengthened governance structure now in place, Cardiff Met FC continues its journey toward building a high-performing, sustainable football model aligned to both FAW strategy and Cardiff Metropolitan University’s wider vision.
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