Mark Kelly is the Chairman of Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol and a leading figure in the evolution of smart stadium and venue design. With over 20 years of experience in hospitality, venue development, and operational leadership, Mark has been instrumental in redefining how sports and entertainment spaces can operate as integrated, technology-driven destinations.

In 2014, he led the redevelopment of Ashton Gate — one of the UK’s first stadium projects to be conceived around the principles of a smart venue. Under his direction, the project delivered a fully connected, multi-use facility that has become a benchmark for commercial innovation, fan experience, and community integration. Mark also serves as CEO of the forthcoming Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter, a transformative £multi-million mixed-use development featuring a 5,000-capacity arena and a 230-room hotel, due to open in 2027.

Beyond Bristol, Mark is the Principal Project Lead for La Grande Mare, a £multi-million golf, country club, and lodge resort in Guernsey — also set to open in 2027 — which brings together sustainable design, luxury hospitality, and wellness-led leisure.

His work extends well beyond sport and hospitality. As a Director of Mashatu Nature Reserve in Botswana, one of Southern Africa’s most important private conservation areas, Mark is deeply committed to environmental protection and sustainable tourism. His involvement in African safari and conservation projects reflects his belief that great destinations — whether stadiums or lodges — must balance commercial success with environmental integrity and social value.

Across all his ventures, Mark champions innovation, sustainability, and community engagement, uniting the worlds of sport, hospitality, and conservation through purposeful design and leadership.