Board Member Portfolios

The Bolton Lads & Girls Club Board consists of members from the community who volunteer their time to provide support to the Club’s Chief Executive and Senior Management team.  Each member brings specialist skills and experience to the Board, assisting the Club to achieve its aims and objectives.  The Board meets every month at the Club on Spa Road.

Members of the board can be nominated by existing members or may elect themselves, and we currently have no ceiling on the number of members.  Each Board Member is elected annually and serves a term of 3 years.

Board Position:	Chairman
Name:	Dave Singleton
Job Title:	Consultant

• Dave manages the Enterprise Portfolio for the Club.
• First elected to the BLGC board in May 2008.
• A proven business leader
• International marketing and senior business management experience - 23 years
• Until April 2007 Senior Vice President Reebok (adidas Group) responsible for Europe, Middle East & Africa
• Business consultancy
• Non-executive director Sports Direct International plc (Chairman Remuneration Committee)
• Executive forum member – Coleman Research Group (USA)
• Chairman Bolton Youth Enterprise Academy
• Honorary fellow University of Central Lancashire
• Vice president Bolton Wanderers Football Club, English Premier League
• 8 years teaching experience (11 – 18 year olds)
• Graduate Loughborough University
• Former international athlete
• Numerous sport coaching and officiating awards

Board Position:	Treasurer
Name:	Mark Pearson
Job Title:	Audit Partner – Barlow Andrews

• Mark manages the Finance Portfolio for the Club.
• Audit partner of Barlow Andrews, one of the leading firms of Chartered Accountants and business advisers in North Manchester and Lancashire.
• In addition to supplying accounts and audit services to a wide variety of businesses, Mark’s specialist areas include the charity sector and collective investment schemes.
• Educated at Canon Slade School, Bolton and the University of Sheffield, studying Pure Maths and Statistics.  Qualified as a chartered accountant in 1983.
• Governor of St Maxentius Primary School, Bolton for the last 8 years.
• Treasurer of Eagley Tennis Club for the last 25 years and still a very keen player.
• Recently appointed as the junior league secretary for Bolton Sports Federation Tennis League.

Board Position:	Company Secretary
Name:	Stephen Crompton
Job Title:	Solicitor – Russell & Russell

• Stephen manages the Legal Portfolio for the Club.
• Has an Honours Degree in Law from Birmingham University and qualified as a Solicitor in 1980.
• Partner and Head of the Property Department of Russell & Russell Solicitors, a multi office practice in the North West.
• Provides consultancy services to Lenders.
• Directorships in associated property related businesses - Estate Agency and Property Searches.
• Member of the Law Society Property Group.
• Member of the Charity Law Association.

Board Position:	Director
Name:	Michael H. Peers
Job Title:	Managing Director – Peers Group

• Michael manages the Asset Management Portfolio for the Club.
• First elected to the BLGC board in September 2007.
• Managing Director of the Peers Group of Companies, which specialise in design, fabrication and installation of structural steelwork for the Petro-Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Nuclear industries throughout the United Kingdom.
• The companies have grown from £2million to £16million turnover.
• Educated at Malvern College, followed by Bradford University with an honours degree in Industrial Technology and Management.
• Served on the Board of Bolton Business Ventures for 10 years and was appointed Vice Chairman.
• Served on the worldwide Main Board of Young Presidents Organisation for 3 years which has 12,000 members.
• Active participant in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme as well as The Outward Bound. Involvement in the last 15 years has generally been in fund raising and working with the Regional Officers.

Board Position:	Director
Name:	Karen Griffiths
Job Title:	Director – Mikar Group

• Karen manages the HR Portfolio for the Club.
• First elected to the BLGC board in July 2002 and has served as both Vice Chairman and Chairman.
• Economics graduate whose early career was in retailing. Joined Harrods as an executive trainee and then moved to the Distributive Industry Training Board, where, over ten years, she rose to the position of Principal Training Adviser with responsibility for industry-wide projects, including the development and piloting of projects to improve young people’s transition from school to work.
• Involved as a shareholder and Director in the establishment of the Mikar Group in 1976 and has worked there since then. The Group’s main activity is the manufacture and distribution, throughout Europe, of specialist industrial chemical protective clothing and cleanroom clothing, also manufacturing watersports clothing. The Head Office and distribution centre is in Bolton where some manufacturing remains, though most is now located in the company’s factory in Slovakia.
• Involved in all aspects of the growth and development of the Mikar Group over the years and currently has responsibility for Human Resources, Quality and Marketing Services.
• As a major employer of sewing machinists in Bolton in the 80s and 90s, Karen was a founder non-executive director of the Sewing Industry Training Unit, a collaborative venture between local companies which recruited and trained people to increase the pool of skilled machinists for the clothing sector in the town. Her responsibilities were for Human Resources and for the programmes run by the Unit.
• A children’s group leader at St Elizabeths Church and a classroom support volunteer with Claypool Primary School. She has served on the Community Health Council and is a past Chairman and long-standing Governor at Claypool Primary School.
• At the Bolton Lads and Girls Clubs she is a volunteer Mentor, who recently received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Mentoring. Also served on the board for 3 years, from 2003 to 2006, as its Chairman.

Board Position:	Director
Name:	Nick Hopkinson MBE
Job Title:	Managing Director – Mark Two Distributors

• Nick manages the Fundraising Portfolio for the Club.
• First elected to the BLGC board in June 2006.
• Joint Managing Director of Mark Two Distributors, a Bolton business supplying the likes of Tesco, Wickes, mfi, Focus, and a number of independent retailers with kitchen and bathroom products that are home delivered direct to the consumer. Mark Two employ around 400 people mostly in and around Bolton.
• The business was set up my Nick, his dad Peter and his brother Chris in 1984.
• Nick has been fundraising for the Bolton Lads & Girls Club for over 15 years. He works very closely with the fundraising team and drives most of the events personally.
• Events are key to creating awareness throughout the region and although the primary role is to raise funds Nick always reminds the supporters just where their money goes at every opportunity.
• Nick has developed a wide network of professional and personal contacts to support the club and he ensures that we have regular communication with them.

Board Position:	Director
Name:	Charles Richard Topham
Job Title:	Director – River Street LLP Group of Companies

• Charles manages the Property Portfolio for the Club.
• First elected to the BLGC board in October 2007.
• BSc Hons - Degree in Construction Economics – University of Salford - 1978
• Joined the family construction company, Charles Topham & Sons Limited after a brief time with Alfred McAlpine PLC
• Appointed a director of the company in 1979 and its managing director in 1981.
• The company and family diversified into related businesses, primarily development of new housing and commercial property in the mid 1980’s with the formation of the Elite Homes Group and CTP Group. In addition the group started a plant hire business and a builder’s merchants group.
• The original family business Charles Topham & Sons Limited was absorbed into the Charles Topham Group Limited, a property holding and investment company, now a member of the River Street LLP Group of associated companies.
• Now a Director and majority shareholder of a group of commercial and residential property investment and development companies.
• Joined the board of the Bolton Lads and Girls Club in late 2007, bringing to the board over 30 years of general business experience with a long standing working knowledge of financial governance and specialist knowledge of the property and construction sector.

Board Position:	Director
Name:	Mark Brocklehurst
Job Title:	Managing Director – Sharples Group Ltd

• Mark Manages the Sports portfolio for the club.
• Managing Director of the Sharples Group Ltd, a North West based company that specialises in the supply, service and support of laser printers, copiers and Document Management Solutions for a wide range of businesses.
• Mark served in the Royal Navy for twelve years as an Aircraft Controller. Travelling extensively during his time he learned valuable leadership and judgement skills  that he has put to good use in his civilian career.
• Current Chairman of two Royal Navy Groups that have a committee peppered with Admirals and Senior ranking Officers. The HMS Ambuscade Association and the Type 21 Frigate Association represent a squadron of eight ships that were in service up until the early nineties and served with distinction during the Falklands War.
• Chairman of Bolton Rugby Club since 2007, a local rugby union club who field four senior sides and a full complement of junior teams from the under 7’s age group all the way up to Senior Colts for under 19’s.
• Mark is a keen sportsman who enjoys rugby, cycling and most sports and is married to Tracey with a young son Tom.

Board Position:	Director
Name:	James Cubbon
Job Title:

• Manages the Enterprise Portfolio for the Club.
• Has a wide commercial experience both in the UK and Global Markets.
• Has previously carried out Consultancy work in Asian markets advising UK companies looking to secure manufacturing in Asia / China. Also helping Chinese plastics manufacturers break into foreign markets.
• Previously Purchasing Director of a UK based Trading Company dealing in P.E.T plastics, securing raw materials from Asia, Europe & USA for sale into the soft drinks industry to the likes of Pepsi Co. & Coca Cola.
• Experienced in setting up on-line trading sites, including helping to found an Internet Consultancy who specialise in eBusiness Systems Development.