OUR TEAM - Bloomsbury Football

OUR TEAM

The team at Bloomsbury Football is a community of game-changers who are committed to using the power of football to change the lives of young people in London.

Across on & off pitch roles, all Bloomsbury Football staff are united by a common vision: a world where football is used to overcome some of the most pressing challenges faced by young people in our society. We believe that the beautiful game is something that should be accessible to all and work each and every day to ensure that this vision becomes a reality.

From 4 staff members working in a small basement room in Bloomsbury in 2018 to over 70 members of staff in 2023, the Bloomsbury Football continues to grow as we change the game for more young people in London.

OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Charlie Cowen

Charlie is the Director of the Men’s Professional Game at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He oversees the men’s professional game, supporting First Class Counties on and off the pitch.

Before joining the ECB he was a Partner at Portas Consulting, a sport-focused global consultancy where he worked with leading football organisations such as UEFA, the FA and the Football Foundation to develop and implement their strategies and help drive their growth. Prior to Portas, Charlie led the Commercial team and New York office for a leading AI fintech company.
Trustee

Daniel Austin

Daniel Austin has served as a Trustee of Bloomsbury Football since its founding. Daniel is the Co-Founder and CEO of ASK Partners, an advisory group specialised in real estate, and was previously a senior member at Investec for thirteen years.

Daniel leverages his expertise to support the charity with income generation, which is critical for facilitating Bloomsbury Football with the opportunity to positively impact more young people.
Trustee

Mark von Herkomer

Mark, along with Charlie Hyman and Daniel Austin, is the founder of Bloomsbury Football. As a purveyor of social equality for young people within sport and the arts, Mark is also the Founder and Trustee of the registered charity HvH Arts which offers young people a gateway to the arts through free art classes, workshops and scholarships.

Mark is also a professional of the built environment, he is the Founder and CEO of Bloomsbury Construction Group and the Founder and Director of Bloomsbury Associates which are two companies that successfully changing industry paradigms.
Trustee

Samantha Bunis

Samantha is Director of Brand, Marketing and Communications at the Football Foundation, the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity. She specialises in brand and digital transformation, partnerships, events and communications.

She’s worked both agency and client-side, energising some of the biggest and most exciting commercial and charity brands in the world – from start-ups to FTSE 250s. Brands she’s most proud to have worked with include BBC iPlayer, BBC Children in Need, Battersea Power Station, M&S, Mars, Maltesers, M&Ms, McCain and Sainsbury’s.
Trustee

Sharon Bennett

Sharon is a marketing and communications professional with broad agency and industry experience. . She has worked with some of the largest governing bodies, clubs and events in sport, such as UEFA, The FA, The Open, Manchester City and the ECB. Sharon is currently a director at creative sports agency, TwelfthMan.

Sharon specialises in brand building, storytelling and creating fan experiences to grow commercial value and have a positive societal impact. At Bloomsbury Football, she advises on safeguarding, digital and marketing.
Trustee

Theepan Jothilingam

Theepan Jothilingam is the Head of EMEA Equity Research at BNP Paribas, with a detailed history of working as a prize-awarded analyst in international financial services firms. Theepan has featured as an industry expert in interviews for the Financial Times and Institutional Investor.

On the Bloomsbury Football board, he provides expertise in the areas of finance, human resources and risk.

OUR CORE TEAM

Charlie Hyman

Founder & CEO

Charlie Hyman

Founder & CEO

Charlie founded Bloomsbury Football in 2018. As CEO, he has experience in coaching, management, marketing, strategy, business development and financial operations. Charlie also advises businesses, charities and governing bodies within the sports industry. In 2021, Charlie was London Sport’s Inspirational Young Person of the Year and was a Sport Industry 30 under 30 NextGen Leader.

Ben Barbour

Finance & Operations Manager

Ben Barbour

Finance & Operations Manager

Ben joined us in September 2022, after graduating in Economics alongside a background of working in football. He is Finance & Operations Manager and works to ensure that all processes are run smoothly so that we can deliver on our aims

Josh Arnold

Academy Manager

Josh Arnold

Academy Manager

Josh joined us in 2020, after studying for an undergraduate degree in Sports Business & Coaching and working as a Sports Teacher in a Preparatory School. He became Academy Manager in December 2021, overseeing the Boys and Girls Academy programme, and is passionate about young people maximising their potential.

Isabelle Chauzy

MARKETING MANAGER

Isabelle Chauzy

MARKETING MANAGER

Isabelle joined the Bloomsbury Football team in 2022. She has studied Politics and International Relations and has a Master’s in business. Isabelle has worked for women’s rights NGOs, in events management and has been assistant producer on a documentary with UN Women. She is passionate about telling stories and showcasing Bloomsbury Football’s social impact.

Cameron Gordon

Foundation Manager

Cameron Gordon

Foundation Manager

Cameron joined in Bloomsbury in October 2020 after spending a year playing and coaching football in New Zealand. As a young person he played for Swindon Town Academy. Cameron studies Sport and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University whilst representing the Loughborough University Football 1st team. Cameron now manages the Foundation programme, providing football for young people of all abilities through the Foundation teams and sessions, holiday camps, disability football and the Bloomsbury Bears.

Joe West

HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS

Joe West

HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS

Joe joined Bloomsbury as Head of Partnerships in 2021 with a focus on maximising fundraising revenue and building partnerships with organisations that support our social mission. He continues to work closely with Charlie and Izzi to help cultivate Bloomsbury’s brand.

Jon Kurrant

Futsal Manager

Jon Kurrant

Futsal Manager

JK joined us in August 2020, having played football as an Academy player at Arsenal, YTS Scholar at Charlton and professionally for Aberdeen, he made the switch to studying BSc Sports Science and completed his MSc in Sports Coaching. Here he founded ProFutsal and has represented England at senior level. He now heads the programme for the futsal department and oversees first team activity and development of youth boys and girls from U6 to U18.

Maya Williamson

Super League Manager

Maya Williamson

Super League Manager

Maya joined the team in September 2022. Her background is in research and design; from specialising in consumer insights for a branding agency to leading UX research and product design at a media-tech start up. She has worked with both local and global non-profit organisations to develop programs that support and empower young people. She now manages Super League LDN, which has become a hub for girls’ football.