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EFL Trust Board Membership Update

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The EFL can confirm a number of personnel changes to the Board of its charitable arm, the EFL Trust, with two EFL nominated members and Independent Trustee changes announced.

Ashley Hackett joins the EFL Trust Board as an EFL nominated Trustee to represent the nationwide network of Club Community Organisations. Ashley has 25 years of Sports Development experience, including work at Blackpool Council, Wyre Council, Major League Soccer (USA) plus roles on school boards, steering groups and the EFL Trust Advisory Group.  He is now twelve years into his tenure at Blackpool Football Club Community Trust, and during his leadership years has grown the Trust significantly.

Experienced chartered accountant Roger Shepherd has been appointed as an Independent Trustee of the Board and joins with nearly twenty years spent in Board positions and brings expertise in HR, Operations, IT, Facilities and Legal matters.

Caroline Artis joined the EFL Trust Board in September 2023 as an EFL nominated Trustee having previously joined the EFL Board in June 2023. Caroline was a partner in EY for 24 years, during which time she became London Office Managing Partner and a member of the UK and Ireland two leadership team. She remains in an ambassadorial role at EY, as well as holding two non-executive positions and trusteeships of three charities.

Uma Cresswell has assumed a new role as Senior Independent Trustee having had a significant impact supporting the charity since joining the EFL Trust Board in November 2021. Uma currently serves on a number of boards both in the private and third sector, whilst running her own international HR consulting business.

“I am delighted to officially welcome Caroline, Ashley and Roger to the Board who I know will bring a wealth of experience and relevance to the roles and have a deep understanding of the challenges facing the charitable organisations that we support.

“We are also very pleased to see Uma move into a Senior Independent Trustee role following her extensive support over the past few years since joining the Board, at what is an exciting time for the EFL Trust.”

Liam Scully, Chair of the EFL Trust

New EFL Community Director Appointed To Lead EFL Trust

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Debbie Cook has been appointed as the EFL’s new Director of Community and will be responsible for overseeing the management of the EFL’s charitable arm, the EFL Trust.

Having worked in local government for 22 years, Cook brings a wealth of leadership experience, previously holding CEO positions at a national health charity and YMCA Humber respectively, before joining Grimsby Town as CEO in June 2021.

Announced at the EFL Trust’s annual conference today (29th November), Cook will also join the League’s Executive Leadership team to further strengthen the EFL and EFL Trust, building on the annual £865m social value contribution that the League’s 72 Clubs make in towns and cities across England and Wales each year.

Trevor Birch, CEO of the EFL, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Debbie to the EFL, bringing with her a wealth of expertise and leadership skills across the sports and charity sectors. I have no doubt that Debbie will make a significant contribution to the League’s Executive team while overseeing operations of the EFL Trust.”

Liam Scully, Chair of the EFL Trust, added: “On behalf of the EFL Trust Board, we’d like to thank our senior team for their unwavering commitment and achievements in managing the charity over what’s been an uncertain 10 months for the EFL Trust. We welcome Debbie to the role and look forward to building on the foundations that have been provided by the network’s outstanding work in recent years.”

Debbie said: “EFL Clubs make a huge impact on communities on a scale which is unprecedented in this country and I’m excited to be joining the EFL as we seek to build on the amazing work that goes on day in, day out.

“It’s been a privilege to witness at Grimsby Town Football Club just how much a club can represent a community and impact the lives of so many people.

“The lessons I have learned during my wonderful period at the club will inform much of my work and I am excited to take on this new challenge.”