Mike Bohndiek, chief executive and founder of PTI Digital, has announced he will leave the digital transformation consultancy at the end of March to become technology director of English Premier League football club Arsenal.
The announcement today (Wednesday) ends an era at PTI that began back in October 2017. PTI said it will be led by its existing management team of Ben Wells, Daniel Brown, Michelle Tricker and Dan Smith, supported by chairman Martin Griffiths.
Griffiths said: “Mike can look back on the past five years with great pride on developing PTI from its first client in 2017, through to its growth and stability during and since the global pandemic.
“He leaves behind a strong company that continues to offer its clients a unique blend of strategic expertise and hands-on skills, further enabled recently by the launch of our IT Managed Services function.
“The rest of the leadership team at PTI have industry leading knowledge and experience, providing a platform for the next exciting stage in the company’s journey.”
For Bohndiek, his move to Arsenal sees his career turn full circle. Bohndiek began his career in earnest at the North London club, joining as a commercial and data executive in November 2005 before serving as head of data, systems and CRM from January 2007 to August 2010.
He then spent two years apiece as operations director at Play On Sports and head of commercial and IT at Sports Fusion, before joining Arsenal’s fellow Premier League club West Ham United in March 2015. Bohndiek served as chief information officer/head of IT through to December 2017.
Commenting on his departure from PTI and return to Arsenal, Bohndiek said on LinkedIn: “It’s been a wonderful time with PTI and I’ve learnt so much from my colleagues, clients and the industry at large through the pandemic. But it’s time for a new chapter.
“I know this will come as a surprise to many, but I have learned that nothing in life stands still and this opportunity, along with some positive personal life focus, led me to believe it was the right thing for me to do.
“The team at Arsenal are embarking on an exciting, fast-paced and industry leading journey and I’m delighted to be returning to my club to be a part of this, shaping a new technology strategy that supports and underpins the future of commercial, operational and football.
“To those that have been a part of the PTI journey, my thanks go to all of you. From a one-man band to a multi-million pound turnover business in a few short years, recognised as thought leaders and delivering result-driven work for clients is something I’ll be proud of forever.
“In the existing management team of Ben Wells, Daniel Brown, Michelle Tricker and Dan Smith, I know that the business will continue to grow and thrive into its next phase and I look forward to watching on as that happens.”
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