Harrogate Town AFC are delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Barry as Chief Executive Officer.
"Sarah joins with a wealth of experience and business acumen in leading a team, with twenty five years growing a successful media business at Stray FM." Explained Chairman Irving Weaver.
"It is an exciting time as fans return to football and with Harrogate Town’s first full season with fans in Football League Two and I am delighted that Sarah is going to join us in a new role as Chief Executive Officer."
Harrogate born, Sarah began her career in advertising sales at the Yorkshire Post straight after leaving university. In 1994, she joined Harrogate’s first radio station, Stray FM in its infancy and this was the start of a varied management career in commercial radio across Yorkshire within the Minster Sound Radio Group, Guardian Media Group (GMG), The Local Radio Company (TLRC) and lastly, UKRD Group Ltd.
Sarah returned to Harrogate’s Stray FM and became Managing Director. Stray FM became one of the UK’s most successful commercial radio stations of its size through expansion into the Yorkshire Dales and pioneering new innovative digital ideas, evolving into a multi-media platform business.
Multi award-winning Stray FM featured twice in the Sunday Times as UKRD were ranked No 1 in the Sunday Times Best Companies Top 100 list, in four consecutive years. In 2020, Stray FM was shortlisted for radio station of the year within the industry’s most prestigious ARIA Awards.
In 2016, Sarah was awarded “Harrogate Ambassador of the year” at the Hospitality and Tourism Awards for her contribution to the Harrogate District, promoting the Town and its people. This was encapsulated within the area’s “Local Hero Awards” which she founded and organised annually.
“I have always known there was something very special about this club, its people and spirit. From the start, I felt aligned with what it represents so this move feels very natural for me." Said Sarah.
"I’m passionate about my hometown and nothing can bring people together like football can, which I also love, so I am incredibly excited to be joining.
"I admire and respect everyone associated who have worked hard through the most challenging of times. I’d like to harness all that is special already and add to it, in the spirit of Harrogate Town AFC.”
Sarah joins the club on the 13
th September.
#ProudToBeTown