West Brom confirm return of Mark Miles in new role following Andrew Nestor exit
Mark Miles has returned to Albion as executive director in the wake of Andrew Nestor's departure from The Hawthorns.
Miles left his role as managing director after more than two decades at Albion in mid-September.
That came as Nestor, a Bilkul boardroom member brought to the club by chairman Shilen Patel, was promoted from a sporting director role to also taking on a title of club president.
Miles previously spent 22 years at The Hawthorns, where he was previously operations director.
He held that role from 2003 until 2022, when he assumed the duties of chief executive following the departure of Ron Gourlay under the doomed ownership of Guochuan Lai.
Miles said: “I am delighted to be back at the club I love, but there is no time for sentiment. I am here to work.
“I hope to bring stability to the club, addressing the situation head on. Our excellent team of staff will be empowered to deliver positive change in all areas.
“I fully understand the level of frustration our supporters feel and will be meeting with members of our Fan Advisory Board (FAB) and the Albion Assembly next week to address their concerns.
“My hope is that we are all able to come together in the best interests of the Albion, as when this club is backed into a corner it knows how to come out fighting.”
Miles played a pivotal role in leading the club to the takeover from Patel in February 2024, when administration became a very real prospect for the club under the doomed control of Lai.
It is understood his break from last September was down to a restructuring where it was not required to have Miles in a managing director role and Nestor as club president.
Miles will report directly to Patel upon his return in a slightly different executive director position.
His appointment is to provide an oversight and governance on all areas of the club, particularly off-field leadership and logistical duties.
His return to The Hawthorns is seen as a significant boost by staff internally, it is understood, following the exit of Nestor, which was confirmed on Friday morning.
Nestor was dismissed from The Hawthorns following a series of failed head coach appointments, as well as poor player recruitment, which led to a breakdown in relations between he and Patel as Albion slumped into a Championship relegation dogfight.