Carlisle United are pleased to announce that Tom Lawrence has been selected for the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Tom will begin working with the club this week under an interim employment arrangement while the formal appointment process is completed with the Independent Football Regulator; the permanent appointment as Chief Executive Officer remains subject to the required regulatory approval.
He brings extensive senior leadership experience across both the English Football League and the National League. A qualified solicitor, he has served as Chief Executive Officer at Southend United and Gillingham and currently sits as a Non-Executive Board Member of the National League.
Tom joins Carlisle after more than five years as Chief Executive Officer and In-House Solicitor at Southend United, where he was responsible for the club’s football and business operations during a particularly demanding period, with his role including oversight of governance, financial planning, commercial operations, ticketing, food and beverage, legal matters and relationships with key football and regulatory stakeholders.
Before joining Southend, Tom was Chief Executive Officer and In-House Solicitor at Gillingham. During his time there, the club achieved a tenth-place finish in League One despite operating with one of the division’s smallest playing budgets.
He also led a restructuring of the business that increased turnover and delivered a financial improvement of more than £600,000.
His experience of leading football clubs at EFL and National League level gives him a strong understanding of the operational, financial and regulatory demands facing clubs throughout the football pyramid while bringing practical experience of balancing on-field ambition with financial discipline, commercial growth, governance and long-term planning.
During the interim period, Tom will work closely with the Ownership Group, the Board and the club’s senior leadership team to support the day-to-day operation of the club and begin developing its longer-term strategy and priorities.
Carlisle United Chairman, Tom Piatak said: “We are delighted that Tom has agreed to join Carlisle United. We undertook a thorough recruitment process, and his depth of experience as a football club Chief Executive stood out.
“Tom has led clubs in both the EFL and the National League and understands first-hand the challenges and opportunities that exist at this level of the game. He has operated in demanding environments, dealt with complex football and business issues and understands the importance of combining ambition on the pitch with strong financial management, commercial growth and accountability throughout the club.
“Patty, our family and I have a clear vision for the future of Carlisle United. Tom’s immediate focus will be to understand that vision, build strong relationships across the club and help turn our ambitions into a clear strategy with measurable priorities.
“The new regulatory approval process means Tom will initially join us under an interim arrangement. We will respect that process fully, but we are pleased he can begin working with the club while it is completed. We are looking forward to working with him and believe his experience will be extremely valuable as we move Carlisle United forward.”
Tom Lawrence said: “I am delighted to be joining Carlisle United and grateful to Tom, Patty and the Piatak family for the trust they have placed in me.
“Carlisle United is a big club with a proud history, a passionate supporter base and an important role at the heart of the city and across Cumbria. It is a privilege to have been selected as the club’s preferred candidate for Chief Executive.
“My immediate priority will be to listen, learn and build strong relationships with the staff, supporters, sponsors and other stakeholders across the community. I look forward to working with the Ownership Group and the Board to turn our shared ambitions into a clear strategy and a strong plan for the future.”
The club will provide a further update once the regulatory approval process has been completed.
