Club Doncaster can confirm that chief commercial officer Jon Warburton is to leave his position at the end of the season to take up a role at a national football organisation.
Jon - who joined the club initially as commercial executive in 2013 - has played a significant role in shaping and growing the commercial department in recent years, most notably through the 100Club Partnership model, which currently has almost 70 members.
As Jon departs the group, current commercial manager Gaynor Waddington will take up a new position as head of partnerships, to manage to commercial department.
Gaynor’s background includes 13 years with BT, three years at national agricultural firm Farmstar and 13 years managing her own business. Since joining Club Doncaster two years ago, Gaynor has headed up partnerships for Doncaster Rugby League and Doncaster Rovers Belles plus secured several of the club’s biggest commercial deals including new North Stand sponsor Pass Logistics.
Gaynor will be supported by Shaun Lockwood, who is moving from his current role as chief operating officer to chief commercial officer. Having initially started at Doncaster Rovers in 2008, Shaun returned to the group in 2017 after a two-year absence from football. Most recently Shaun oversaw the new catering partnership between Club Doncaster and Venue Catering Partners, which has seen significant improvements to the club’s catering operation.
Replacing Shaun Lockwood as chief operating officer will be Chris Wood, who will oversee operations, safety and grounds alongside stadium facilities such as the CDA. Chris has been at Club Doncaster for almost a year and brings a wealth of experience to his position having previously held the roles of Premier Sport operations director and Active Nation Leisure Centres commercial business manager and having spent seven years as area manager for restaurant chain Frankie & Benny’s.
The internal restructuring will lead to several new vacancies being created across the group, most notably within the commercial department, with details to be provided in due course.
