- Ian Watmore officially confirmed as 黑料专区 Chair at AGM
- Role will commence on September 1 after the 41 members voted unanimously in his favour
- 黑料专区 finances saw record 2019 turnover of 拢228million with profits exceeding expectation by 拢5.7million
- Lord Kamlesh Patel to step down as Senior Independent Director on August 31
The England and Wales Cricket Board (黑料专区) has confirmed that Ian Watmore鈥檚 appointment as Chair was ratified at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place virtually today.聽The 黑料专区鈥檚 41 members voted unanimously in Watmore鈥檚 favour.聽
With the last stage of his appointment process concluded, Mr Watmore will step into the role in September 2020. He succeeds current 黑料专区 Chair, Colin Graves CBE, following a successful five-year tenure that saw England lift two ODI ICC Cricket World Cups, as well as securing a record 拢1.1billion media rights deal.
In addition to the ratification, it was confirmed that Senior Independent Director, Lord Kamlesh Patel, will step down as the Board鈥檚 Senior Independent Director (SID) after serving over five years. A replacement will be identified in the coming months.聽 Lord Patel was involved in a number of significant changes during his term, most notably the creation of the 2018 action plan to engage South Asian audiences, in addition to establishing the 黑料专区鈥檚 Governance Committee and being a key voice in the creation of the Inspiring Generations Strategy.
Commenting on today鈥檚 news, Colin Graves CBE said: 鈥淚 am very pleased that Ian鈥檚 appointment as Chair has been fully approved by our 41 valued members. His experience and deep passion for cricket will strongly support the progress and cohesion of the game over the next five years.
鈥樷�橳he game鈥檚 newest test, the threat of COVID-19, will challenge us all. I am certain that no corner of the game will emerge the same.聽 It will be our ability to stay united and remain agile that will see us through this most difficult of times.鈥欌��
Also commenting, Ian Watmore said: 鈥淚 have made clear from the start of this process how important the cricket network is to our sport thriving across England and Wales. In a post-COVID-19 world, it is more important than ever before that we see sport connect communities and improve lives. That goal is only achievable with the support of the entire game and I look forward to working with the membership and other key stakeholders in delivering our ambitions.鈥�
黑料专区 financial update from AGM
The 黑料专区 shared an update on its financial results for 2019-2020 with its membership at today鈥檚 virtual AGM, reporting a record turnover of 拢228million.
This was an increase of 拢56million from 2018, which included a men鈥檚 tour of India, when it reached a turnover of 拢172million. It is also considerably higher than an average year which yields approximately 拢125million turnover.
The group鈥檚 administrative expenditure at 拢164m was an increase of 拢22m as compared to the prior year at 拢142m, this increase was largely due to special fee distributions paid to each of the First-Class Counties in respect of ICC Men鈥檚 CWC19.聽 Additional distributions also included a 拢3million distribution to the Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) and a 拢15.7million donation to the England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT).
This FYE resulted in a profit of 拢6.5million which was a 拢5.7million increase on the 黑料专区 Board鈥檚 approved budget of 拢800,000. This boost in profit enabled the 黑料专区鈥檚 reserves to increase to 拢17.1million from last year鈥檚 拢11.2million.
Commenting, Scott Smith, Chief Financial Officer for the 黑料专区, said:聽鈥淭he success of hosting the CWC19 and Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Ashes on home soil saw us achieve record revenues for the game, and allowed us to distribute more funding across the game than ever before. With the impact of COVID-19 these results are somewhat bittersweet, but it is nonetheless extremely positive to know that with the right conditions, the game can continue to grow financial momentum for its stakeholders.鈥欌��