Kathy Leather to leave Worcester Warriors

Worcester Warriors can today confirm that Kathy Leather has decided to leave her role as Commercial Director at Sixways Stadium after 13 years of loyal service.

Former Worcestershire Businesswoman of the Year, Kathy has worked at the Warriors since 1999, when she joined the ‘Duckworth Revolution’ from Bedford. She was employed originally in the role as Commercial Manager and was immediately successful in growing both the Rugby and Non-rugby income streams.

For the first 11 years Kathy single-handedly drove both sides of the Commercial business forward. The club now shows a turnover in excess of £8m pa. In the last two years she has been concentrating on growing the Commercial Rugby income and that side of the business.

As the Warriors sought and then succeeded with promotion to the Premiership, Kathy’s role at Sixways grew and as such she has played a major part in the wider Worcestershire business community. She sits on the management board of Worcestershire Ambassadors, is a governor of Tudor Grange Academy and is President of Vigornia Rotary Club. She is a patron of the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign and vice chair of the local Wooden Spoon charity.

In her time as Commercial Director, Kathy negotiated the first multi-million pound sponsorship deal with npower and then the move forward with current main sponsors Worcester Bosch.

Her friendly nature, successful business experience and knowledge of the local business community have made her an integral part of the local community. However, after 13 years in post, she feels that now is the right time to move on.

Kathy Leather said: “It is an extremely sad day but after 13 years I will be leaving Worcester Warriors and Sixways Stadium. I have had a fabulous time and worked with some superb people and I will be watching close at hand the future success of Worcester Warriors.

“When I joined back in 1999 I always believed that the Club had amazing potential but I don’t think I could have predicted what the next 13 years would bring. As well as the success on the pitch, international games and tournaments we have brought music concerts, team building and charity events to Sixways as well as civil weddings, TV programmes and gala dinners.

“There have been times when I thought I would never leave Worcester Warriors, but sometimes it’s just the right time! We have a diverse and experienced board of directors and I wish them well in taking the Club through the next phase of its development. Sixways will always play a major role in the community of Worcestershire and I look forward to watching the development, and of course the Rugby, from the outside”

Charlie Little, Managing Director at Sixways, paid tribute to Kathy’s involvement at the club and added: “Over the last 13 years, Kathy has driven the commercial side of our business forward. She has overseen the transition from a Championship team to a Premiership outfit and been involved in establishing the Warriors at the heart of the community.

“Her energy and bubbly nature as well as her devotion to everything at Sixways will be sorely missed and on behalf of everyone at the club, I wish her well in the future.”


SIGN UP TO THE WARRIORS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER