Worcestershire CCC have restructured their backroom staff to meet the growing demands of their thriving business enterprises during the past 12 months.
Turnover has increased significantly since the successful launch and success of “The View” as a corporate and members facility at New Road last September.
The whole business is growing with the ultimate aim to make the club the number one spot in the city for conferences, weddings and functions 365 days a year.
That in turn will help to achieve the priority of making more finances available for Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes who has brought LV= County Championship Division One cricket back to New Road to coincide with the club's 150th anniversary in 2015.
The new staffing line-up is designed to help continue driving the business forward and tailor-made to give the best possible quality of service to would be clients and customers in all spheres.
Jon Graham has played a major role in helping Worcestershire CCC to attract more sponsors and significantly increasing income as Business Development Director and he will assume the role of Commercial Director.
Graham, a lifelong Worcestershire fan, will oversee and link up with all departments of the business chain in his new key position.
Carrie Lloyd will switch from Membership & Ticketing Administrator to the role of Marketing Executive.
Graham commented that Carrie "has been integral to the club's change of direction from a marketing perspective over the last 12 months and was instrumental in the launch of the Rapids branding which has been a massive success and she fully deserves her new role”.
Amy Francetti will remain as Membership & Ticketing Manager.
Graham said: “Amy has built up a strong relationship with the county's members and led the price freeze promotion project for early bird members which has been a major success.
"She has also been to driving force of the Worcestershire CCC social media strategy, growing the number of Twitter followers from 3,000 to 15,000 in just 18 months.”
Paul Biggerstaff will continue as Sales Executive, a role encompassing sponsorship and hospitality sales for cricket, and will also be in charge of the retail operation which flourished when the club shop returned to New Road last season.
Graham said: “Paul has been an excellent addition to the team over the last 12 months and has re-invented our retail proposition which we expect big things from in 2015. Paul will be going out to businesses in the county over the coming months selling the various hospitality and sponsorship packages”
Fiona Watson will take on the position of Front of House & Sales Support Administrator in reception after building up strong links with members and business partners when Front of House in the restaurant area of The View.
Graham said: “Fiona’s key focus will be to grow the wedding business in 2015, she will organise and oversea the multiple wedding exhibitions at New Road with the first being held on Sunday 25th January.
"We believe that our facilities and panaromic views of the Cathedral and the Malverns are the perfect recipe for celebrating after tying the knot and I know that Fiona will be a superb wedding planner for future happy couples”.
Graham said: "I’m really happy with the team we've got and it gives us that platform to build.
"We've been looking at it since the new facilities were built. The club is growing in a number of ways.
"On the field, performances have improved which is probably a little ahead of schedule as far as the business plan is concerned – but it's brilliant.
"Turnover is increasing, the whole business is growing and we needed to identify key roles and responsibilities so people can take ownership of their area in the business going forward.
"Historically, with the challenges of a cricket club built on a flood plain, and only having one facility in the Graeme Hick Pavilion, we've been limited in what you could do.
"With The View now it gives us a lot more scale and scope in terms of what we can achieve."
Graham added: "Our long term vision is to ensure that Worcestershire County Cricket Club and New Road is number one destination in the county for conferences, weddings, private functions.
"My short term objective was to make sure we've got the right people in the right roles, and this is now complete.
"However there is likely to be a new addition to the team in 2015 to make sure all of our corporate clients and guests are looked after in a way that is expected at Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
"We are a customer orientated business and value every single penny from both the corporate and the cricketing world.
"One thing is for certain no matter how successful we become will we never take anything for granted and become complacent.
“Everybody at the Club understands the long term vision and we are all pushing as one to make sure all of our aims, objectives and targets are achieved."
