{"id":560694,"date":"2020-08-03T12:05:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=560694"},"modified":"2020-08-03T12:05:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T16:05:00","slug":"mark-jenkins-retires-as-west-bromwich-albion-chief-executive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/08\/03\/mark-jenkins-retires-as-west-bromwich-albion-chief-executive\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Jenkins Retires as West Bromwich Albion Chief Executive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mark Jenkins has announced his decision to retire as West Bromwich Albion<\/a> Chief Executive after a combined 18 years at the club. Executive director Xu \u201cKen\u201d Ke will step into the role after working closely alongside Jenkins since 2018.<\/p>\n

Mark Jenkins Retires as Chief Executive<\/h2>\n

Time at the Club<\/h3>\n

Jenkins leaves West Brom having helped guide the club to four promotions from the Championship and 12 seasons in the Premier League. During his time in office, Albion have never finished lower than fourth in the Championship.<\/p>\n

He initially joined the Baggies in 2002, before stepping down in 2016 following the takeover by Guochuan Lai. He returned for a second spell in February 2018 as Chief Executive, overseeing last years appointment of Slaven Bili\u0107<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Post Pandemic Era<\/h3>\n

\u201cI had informed the owners before lockdown that I would be leaving at the end of the season,\u201d Jenkins explained on the club website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we were unsuccessful then I felt it was appropriate that somebody else take the reins to ensure this great club return to where it should be. Equally, if we did achieve the target then my role would come to a natural and positive conclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has become increasingly clear to me that football is entering a new post-pandemic age which will demand fresh ideas, fresh initiatives and fresh outlooks. I believe the challenges ahead will be best tackled by someone with renewed energy and different ideas. Yes, promotion eases some of the pressures but our club needs to explore revenue opportunities across a range of new areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the 18 seasons I have been at the Club I have no doubt made some mistakes and I am sure every supporter has his own thoughts. But I am proud to have played a part during this period in which Albion spent 12 seasons in the Premier League and six seasons in the Championship. In those six seasons, we enjoyed four promotions and two Play-Off campaigns. It has been an exhilarating experience climaxed by those events last Wednesday which take us back to the top tier once again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jenkins played a significant role in the Club\u2019s most successful period of the modern age. It perhaps fitting that he leaves on the back of another promotion season.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>