Brentford has secured investment from two high-profile names, adding new perspectives and voices to its ownership
Brentford FC has confirmed philanthropist Gary Lubner and filmmaker Matthew Vaughn as minority shareholders, pending Premier League approval.
Announced on July 15, the pair joined the club’s ownership following their investment in Brentford’s parent company, Best Intentions Analytics (BIA).
BIA was created earlier this year, after majority owner Matthew Benham transferred his shares into the newly formed holding company in February. The move was designed to enable outside investment while maintaining Benham’s control.
The fresh capital from Lubner and Vaughn will support squad investment and create new commercial opportunities. The club also expects the partnership to help expand Brentford’s reach and impact both locally and internationally.
Benham remains the club’s majority shareholder, while day-to-day operations continue under Chief Executive Jon Varney, Director of Football Phil Giles and Chair Cliff Crown.
“It is vital to us that any new investors understand and reflect the values of our club. Since we first met Gary and Matthew, we have been aligned on how they can make a positive impact,” said Varney.
Who is Matthew Vaughn?
British filmmaker Vaughn is best known for creating globally successful films like Kingsman and Kick-Ass. But long before he became a Hollywood mainstay, Vaughn had his sights on something closer to home, Brentford FC.
Around the time he helped produce Snatch with Guy Ritchie, a gritty cult classic released in 2000, Vaughn says he was first tipped off about the West London club.
“My journey with Brentford began 25 years ago when an actor suggested it would be a ‘great club to invest in,’ and I’ve followed their progress ever since with well-earned respect,” he said.
Back then, Brentford were a world away from the Premier League. The 1999/2000 season saw them finish 14th in the third tier of English football, though they did reach the final of the Football League Trophy, narrowly losing 2-1 to Port Vale.
“Some years later, an agent made the same suggestion and so I went to a game, and it was the most unique, intimate, and yet epic match I had ever been to,” Vaughn recalled.
“As he showed me around the stadium and introduced me to the brilliant owner and exceptional management team, all I could hear was the voice of the actor who first told me about the club echoing in my head, saying ‘You should have listened to me, it would have been much cheaper 25 years ago!’”
Fast-forward to today, and Brentford are becoming a staple of the Premier League. The club finished 10th in the 2024/25 season, their fourth consecutive year in the top flight since promotion in 2021, and continues to punch above its weight both on and off the pitch.
Now officially a minority shareholder, Vaughn is stepping into a new kind of production role.
“There is a uniquely universal respect for this club in the football world, and I too share in this admiration deeply,” he said. “So here I am, embarking on a new chapter of my life where I will give my all to help build on the amazing foundations that have been laid on and off the pitch.”
Who is Gary Lubner?
South African-born businessman Lubner made his name steering Belron, the world’s largest vehicle glass repair company and owner of brands like Autoglass, through decades of international growth. After more than 20 years as CEO, he stepped down in 2023 to focus on a different kind of impact.
Known for championing social causes through his This Day Foundation, Lubner has shifted gears into values-driven investment. Brentford FC and AD Mérida are now part of that mission.
Transparency is a recurring theme in Lubner’s career. First in glass, now in purpose. His investment in BIA, the umbrella group that holds stakes in both Brentford and AD Mérida of the Spanish third-tier, reflects an ambition to back organisations which combine performance with community.
“I am a strong believer in the power of sport to build and unite communities,” he said. “And I have been hugely impressed by the values on which this great club has been established and continues to thrive.”
Brentford’s community arm, the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, was a key reason for his involvement. The Trust runs a wide range of outreach initiatives across West London, including educational programmes and health and wellbeing support. One standout is Bee a Hero, a blood donation campaign which encourages fans and residents to donate through NHS partnerships.
“Brentford stands for more than just football,” he said. “Its commitment to community, integrity and social progress reflects the values I care deeply about.”
“I’m proud to support a club where success on the pitch goes hand in hand with meaningful impact off it,” he added. “Especially through the incredible work of the Community Sports Trust, which changes lives every day across west London.”
