ECB recruits business, entertainment and cricket expertise to help build new T20 competition

The ECB today announced the formation of a New T20 Board as the next stage in the development of its new eight-team T20 competition to start in 2020.

The eleven-strong body will draw on independent expertise from the business and entertainment sectors alongside representatives from the First-Class county game and the ECB’s senior management team.

Acting in an advisory role to the ECB’s main Board of Directors, the new T20 Board will have sub-committee status and oversee the design, implementation and all operational aspects of the new competition.

Michael Lumb – the former Nottinghamshire, Hampshire and Yorkshire batsman, member of England’s 2010 World T20-winning squad and a player in the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash - will act as an advisor on cricket matters.

ECB Chairman Colin Graves will chair the New T20 Board which will meet for the first time in April. Including six independent appointees, the full list of members is:

Sanjeev Gandhi Partner & Co-Founder, Mitchell Gandhi *

Norman Gascoigne Chairman, Warwickshire County Cricket Club

Sahar Hashemi Entrepreneur (co-founder of Coffee Republic & Skinny Candy)*

Ron Kalifa Vice Chairman & former CEO of WorldPay*

Mike McCormack MD, Universal Music Publishing Group*

Sanjay Patel ECB Chief Commercial Officer & Managing Director, New T20

Caroline Rowland Founder of New Moon and Senior Level Strategist*

Scott Smith ECB Chief Financial Officer

Gavin Warren Chairman, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

Suzi Williams Strategic & commercial leader in brand-led consumer & media *

(* Denotes independent member)

Commenting on the appointments, Sanjay Patel, Managing Director New T20 and ECB Chief Commercial Officer, said:

“As we build a new competition for a new audience, it’s critical that we draw on best practice from within the wider business and entertainment industries as well as core cricket knowledge.

“This diverse group, which includes individuals with a proven track-record of successfully launching major products and consumer brands, will help to guide our thinking and provide a formal link to the ECB’s Board.

“Players are the game’s most important asset and former and current players will have an important role to play in shaping our broader thinking.With huge experience of both domestic and international T20 cricket worldwide, Michael Lumb is really well- placed to give a player’s perspective and we will welcome his input into all cricket matters.”

ends

Notes to editors:

1. The ECB announced last year that its membership had overwhelmingly approved a change to its Articles of Association – allowing for the introduction of a new eight-team competition from 2020.
2. The New T20 competition, forms part of ECB’s new media rights agreement with SkySports and BBC from 2020-24 announced last year and will complement the existing Vitality Blast competition.
3. The ECB Board approved recommendations from its Host Venue Panel earlier this year to award hosting rights in the new competition to eight different grounds: The Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Emerald Headingley, Emirates Old Trafford, The Kia Oval, Lord’s, SSE SWALEC Stadium and Trent Bridge.
4. The appointments to the New T20 Board were made following an open recruitment process overseen by the ECB’s Nominations Committee.