Tom Harrison set to step down as ECB chief executive

Harrison was appointed in October 2014, beginning full-time the next January, having held senior govt positions at IMG in Singapore and ESPN STAR Sports activities. Born in England, he was introduced up in South Africa however returned to the UK aged 14, and had a quick first-class cricket profession with Derbyshire and Northamptonshire.

He has, nevertheless, been a controversial determine for a lot of his tenure. He oversaw the introduction of the Hundred, which belatedly launched final summer season, and whereas the £1.1 billion tv rights deal he negotiated in 2017 has seen the ECB’s turnover develop considerably, their reserves have been depleted.

He has additionally needed to cope with the racism disaster that has engulfed the English sport during the last two years, repeatedly giving proof to DCMS (Division of digital, tradition, media and sport) choose committees, and oversaw the game’s response to the 2020 pandemic, together with the staging of England males’s full worldwide summer season programme behind closed doorways in bio-secure environments.

“It has been a huge honour to be CEO of the ECB for the past seven years,” Harrison stated. “Cricket is an extraordinary force for good in the world and my goal has been to make the game bigger and ensure more people and more communities in England and Wales feel they have a place in this sport. The long-term health of cricket depends on its ability to grow and remain relevant and be more inclusive in an ever-changing world.

“The previous two years have been extremely difficult, however we now have pulled collectively to get by way of the pandemic, overcome cricket’s greatest monetary disaster, and dedicated to tackling discrimination and persevering with the journey in direction of turning into the inclusive, welcoming sport we try to be. I’ve put all the pieces into this position, however I consider now could be the proper time to herald recent power to proceed this work.”

Harrison is the latest man to leave a position of power at the ECB in recent months with the men’s team losing its managing director, head coach, assistant coach and captain over the winter and the role of chair still vacant following Ian Watmore’s departure in October.

Rob Key filled the vacant director’s role last month, following the sacking of Ashley Giles in the wake of the Ashes, while Brendon McCullum was last week named as England’s new Test coach, taking over from Chris Silverwood, and will partner with Ben Stokes, the new captain, for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting on June 2. Matthew Mott, the Australia women’s head coach, is expected to be unveiled as the new white-ball coach this week.

Martin Darlow, the ECB interim chair, said: “Tom has been an excellent CEO and deserves our honest thanks for all he has achieved in his time on the ECB. By way of the Inspiring Generations technique, he has set the sport on a path to development and to being performed and watched by extra folks from all backgrounds, underpinned by file funding in cricket.

“When the pandemic struck, it was Tom’s leadership that brought the game together and saved us from the worst financial crisis the sport has ever faced. He has always put the interests of the game first and worked to lead important change to make our game more accessible and inclusive, though we all know there is still much more work to do.

“We are going to now start the seek for his successor who can construct on all that he has achieved. I am happy that Clare Connor has agreed to step into the position on an interim foundation whereas this course of is below manner.”

The ECB Board has appointed govt search agency Spencer Stuart to steer the seek for a brand new chief govt, with the position anticipated to be marketed shortly.