Hartlepool United is pleased to announce the appointments of Simon Corbett and Chris Kelly as Co-Chairs of the club’s new Commercial & Projects Committee.

The confirmation follows on from Owner and Chairman Landon Smith’s recent update letter to supporters, where the Commercial & Projects Committee was identified as one of the three key extensions to the Board. It will specially focus on growing commercial income, developing strategic partnerships and helping progress key capital and facility projects.

The appointments also build on Landon’s commitment to strengthen the club’s governance and to anchor local people into Pools’ long-term planning.

Simon and Chris will work closely with the club’s commercial off-field staff and the Board to help drive commercial growth, develop major strategic partnerships, and support key projects that contribute investment to the club’s long-term development.

Landon Smith, Owner and Chairman of Hartlepool United, said: “Establishing the Commercial & Projects Committee is an important part of our plans and we have been working on it for some time. We wanted people to lead it who bring sound business acumen, who care about the club and can help drive growth.

“Spending time with Simon and Chris has given me a good understanding of how they work and what matters to them. I have been impressed by the thought they have given to Pools and their willingness to put their time, experience and relationships into helping the club progress.

“With me based in the US, I want Pools to retain a strong local heart, and that must be reflected in its people. Simon and Chris understand Hartlepool and its communities. They have also built excellent businesses in the town with connections locally, nationally and internationally, and that combination and skill set balance will be valuable to the club.

“The committee will strengthen the support available to our full-time staff and accelerate our commercial growth plans, which ultimately underpin our club-wide ambitions including football. I am delighted to welcome them both into their new roles.”

Simon Corbett founded Orangebox Training Solutions in Hartlepool in 2016, growing it into a multi-million-pound education and training business supporting thousands of people with training, qualifications and employment.

He built partnerships with businesses, colleges, local authorities and combined authorities across the North East and wider UK before selling the business in 2025. He remained with the organisation following the sale, focusing on business development and strategic relationships.

Simon also chairs Hartlepool Business Forum, co-hosts the Hartlepool Business Awards and serves as a Business Ambassador for Alice House Hospice.

Simon Corbett said: “Being born and bred in Hartlepool, I know how much Pools means to people and what an impact the club can have on our town. Being asked to join the committee and to work with the club is something I am incredibly proud of.

“There are some excellent business relations already in place, and we want to build on those while encouraging more to become involved. Equally, there are some very exciting projects on the horizon that we will help support.

“Chris and I will bring our contacts and experience to the equation, working alongside the club staff, as we collectively look to help drive the commercial growth of the club forward.”

Chris Kelly founded Phoenix 2 Retail in Hartlepool in 2020 and built it from a start-up into a vast £180million turnover national distribution business supplying major retailers and wholesalers.

The company ranked third in the 2024 UK Fast Growth 200 and was named the country’s fastest-growing consumer products firm at the UK Fast Growth Index awards. Chris’s own achievements were recognised when he won Best New Entrepreneur at the 2022 Tees Business Awards.

Chris’s portfolio now stretches across multiple businesses with connections nationally and internationally. He already supports football in the town through investment in a local grassroots football club and Phoenix 2 Retail’s sponsorship of the Hartlepool Sunday League.

Chris Kelly said: “Sitting down with Landon gave me a much clearer understanding of what he wants to achieve at Pools and how he intends to go about it. We talked about the work ahead and where my experience could help. His passion and commitment came through strongly, and I came away wanting to be involved.

“Building Phoenix 2 Retail and my other businesses has taught me a lot, and I want to bring that experience to the Club and take an active part in helping it move forward. I’ve been a lifelong supporter of Pools, and being able to give something back and help the club in the next stage of its journey is something I’m really passionate about.

“Having built my business in Hartlepool, I know what can be achieved here, and the opportunity to contribute to Pools means a great deal to me. I am looking forward to getting to work with Simon and the club staff.”

The club will provide further updates in the coming weeks.