Leeds United appoints head of marketing

Premiership side Leeds United Football Club has appointed former Adidas marketer Roy Gardner as its head of marketing.

Gardner joins from outdoor clothing company Helly Hansen, where he was head of communications. Before that he worked at Adidas UK as group brand communications manager. He joins Leeds next month.

A trio of senior marketers left the club at the end of last year. Marketing manager Andrew Cucksey, sponsorship manager Chris Womack and international brand manger Stuart Ogg all departed within a two-month period (MW November 22, 2001). In addition, commercial director Adam Pearson left earlier in the year. It is unclear whether the club intends to fill these posts. Leeds refused to comment as Marketing Week went to press.

The club has had a controversial season. Last year players Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate were taken to court after Asian student Sarfraz Najeib was beaten unconscious in Leeds city centre. Bowyer was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and was cleared of affray, while Woodgate was convicted of affray and sentenced to community service. However, earlier this month the student’s family launched a civil damages claim against Bowyer.