Ambitious Lions appoint John Hesketh as Business Development Director

10 March 2022

Swinton Lions Rugby League Club is delighted to announce the appointment of John Hesketh in the role of Business Development Director. 

Swinton CEO Steve Wild explained, “We are constantly looking at ways to enhance our operational model, whether that be on the playing side through our Head Coach Allan Coleman, or on the business side by adding expertise to our Board. With the changing landscape of the sport, particularly in respect of recent much reduced central funding, we have to ensure that we are putting the blocks in place to underpin Swinton Lions moving forward”.

Once we learned of John’s availability we organised a couple of meetings and quickly realised that we are a good match. John’s impressive CV speaks for itself, and the Board has no doubt that he will prove to be a great asset to our club and indeed to our affiliated community foundation which is also going from strength to strength. Our club is geographically based in the midst of a Manchester conurbation of nearly 3 million people and there is huge potential if we get things right.

John said, “As Business Development Director at Swinton Lions, my job will be to help maximise both Club and Foundation income. In other words, I will assist in ensuring that we have all the necessary financial means to fulfil our sporting, community development and social impact ambitions going forward – reaching out across Swinton, Salford, Trafford and Manchester more widely to build brand awareness, connect with new partners and deliver on our responsibilities towards maximising partnership exposure, club and community impact”.

“To my new position I will bring varied and wide-ranging experience of income generation and business development, through sponsor engagement and community fundraising, successful grant application and pursuit of public sector contracts, having held management roles in the public, private and third sectors over the last 23 years – posts with the likes of Wigan Council, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust (now Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles), T4C (now Access 2 Funding), The Boathouse Youth and Manchester Deaf Centre. My knowledge of social policy and public sector strategy is also strong as well, and across the Greater Manchester local authority areas in which the Lions have a presence, I’m hopeful of opening new doors and maximising a few synergies for shared benefit through collaboration as we push forward”.

“I am very pleased, proud and excited to be joining the Lions’ family. I am looking forward to meeting and working with present and prospective partners of both the Rugby League Club and the Lions’ Foundation over the coming weeks and months. If you would like to get in touch in the meantime, to share ideas or explore possible opportunities, please drop me an email ([email protected]) or give me a ring on 07939 562710″.

“Otherwise, please keep an eye on our official communication channels for news of plans taking shape, finding traction, starting to realise results and enabling things to happen.”