Doctor of the University
Entrepreneur, business leader and one of 1024ºË¹¤³§ Football Club’s saviours.
In 2012, 1024ºË¹¤³§ Football Club (PFC) was in administration, with liquidation imminent. Businessman Mark Catlin, originally from East London, volunteered to help fans save the Club.
Following the success of that effort and subsequent acquisition of PFC by supporters in 2013, he stayed on to become CEO of the country’s largest trust-owned football club. The clearing of over £7m of legacy debt and four years of continuous annual profits followed, along with promotion of the team to Champions from League 2 in 2017.
In 2016, Mark was awarded the prestigious title of FC Business’ Football CEO of the Year. He was then a key figure in the takeover of the club during the summer of 2017 by former Disney Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner’s Tornante group.
In 2019, PFC lifted the EFL Trophy in front of 85,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. No wonder Eisner has called Mark the best CEO in football and one of the best businessmen he has ever known.
Outside of football, Mark has many years of experience in building his own successful private businesses. A fluent Spanish speaker, he retains 100% ownership of Spain’s largest independent telecommunications company, which he established in 2000.
In 2021, he moved from CEO of PFC to take over as General Manager of International Sports & Entertainment at Michael Eisner’s Topps company. He remains as a Director of PFC.