Jane Reed-Thomas has rejoined Yorkshire Tennis & Padel as the organisation’s new head of sponsorship, managing relationships with existing sponsors and leading on the development of funding strategy and new commercial partnerships.

Chair of Yorkshire Tennis & Padel Paul Billington said: “Jane has agreed to rejoin us as a volunteer and I’m delighted to welcome her back. Formerly our lead on marketing and sponsorship, she brings a wealth of commercial experience in this area. 

“Like everything we do, the support of our sponsors is designed to grow the sports of tennis and padel in Yorkshire and get more people playing. Jane will play a key role in helping us deliver on this and I know she’s looking forward to working with our delivery team on further strengthening and widening our sponsorship work.”

Originally brought up in Leeds, Jane first developed a passion for sports at Harrogate Grammar School and continued to play sport at university, attending St Andrews where she graduated in Biochemistry & Physiology. She went on to complete an MBA at Aston University and has a professional diploma in marketing.

Jane recently returned to Yorkshire – although to the East Riding this time – after a 30-year career in the pharmaceutical and financial services industries, where she achieved senior leadership positions in sales, marketing and communications, and executive team roles working for major global companies such as Merck and Zurich Financial Services both within the UK and abroad.

Her passion for tennis originally developed as a result of being a ‘tennis mum’. Since retiring, Jane has taken up tennis herself, playing for women’s and mixed teams in the York, Driffield & District and occasionally Leeds league.