Tom Harrison steps down as ECB chief executive

Former England captain and current managing director of women's cricket and MCC president, Clare Connor is set to take over the role in an interim capacity

Tom Harrison is stepping down as CEO of the England & Wales Cricket Board, ending his seven-year tenure in the role.

Current managing director of women’s cricket and MCC president, Clare Connor, is set to take over the role in an interim capacity.

His departure is the latest big change at the top of English cricket, with men’s head coach Chris Silverwood, director of cricket Ashley Giles and Test captain Joe Root all leaving their positions since the turn of the year.

And although these positions have since been filled by Brendon McCullum (Test only), Rob Key and Ben Stokes, the ECB remains without a permanent chair following Ian Watmore's departure last October and Barry O'Brien's resignation last month.

Harrison replaced David Collier as the ECB's chief executive in January 2015, with his tenure spanning the conception and delivery of The Hundred - a controversial project which has divided English cricket.

The Cricketer understands Harrison did not get a new broadcast contract over the line prior to his departure. He had been working on a 10-year deal but those negotiations remain open. The competition formed a key part of the £1.1billion TV rights deal negotiated by Harrison for the 2020 to 2024 period.

^{Clare Connor is set to take over the role on an interim basis [Ben Hoskins/Getty Images]}

Harrison was one of a handful of senior executives to pocket a share of a £2.1million bonus as part of the so-called Long Term Incentive Plan, which was designed as a "retention tool for key senior leaders" to "reward and encourage the long‑term performance and growth of the organisation/game" in line with its Inspiring Generations strategy.

Watmore, who was ECB chair at the time, said: "Long-term incentive plans are widely adopted across many sectors, including sports federations, as a way of rewarding long-term performance of executives and leaders as well as encouraging retention.

"The ECB’s LTIPs were created to take us through the negotiations of the last media rights cycle, the implementation of the Inspiring Generations strategy and the first two years of its delivery."

The bonus is understood to have been paid out prior to his exit.

During his tenure, Harrison has also overseen the delivery of the ECB's Inspiring Generations strategy, which aims to make cricket a more accessible and inclusive sport, as well as leading the ECB's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As previously reported by The Cricketer, Harrison has been preparing for his departure for several weeks.

His temporary replacement Connor is a former England captain and holds a role within the wholescale review of English cricket, set up by the ECB in the wake of the England men's team's nightmare Ashes tour over the winter, alongside her other positions.

Connor will be a candidate for the CEO position on a full-time basis.

Other possible candidates include Johnny Grave, the chief executive of Cricket West Indies, and former Surrey chief executive Richard Gould, who is currently at Bristol City Football Club.

Another option, Wasim Khan, has been ruled out of the reckoning after accepting the job of general manager at the ICC.

^{Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave could be a candidate to take the role [Randy Brooks/Getty Images]}

Harrison said: "It has been a huge honour to be CEO of the ECB for the past seven years. 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 past two years have been incredibly challenging, but we have pulled together to get through the pandemic, overcome cricket’s biggest financial crisis, and committed to tackling discrimination and continuing the journey towards becoming the inclusive, welcoming sport we strive to be. I have put everything into this role, but I believe now is the right time to bring in fresh energy to continue this work."

Martin Darlow, interim ECB chair, said: "Tom has been an outstanding CEO and deserves our sincere thanks for all he has achieved in his time at the ECB. Through the Inspiring Generations strategy, he has set the game on a path to growth and to being played and watched by more people from all backgrounds, underpinned by record investment 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 will now begin the search for his successor who can build on all that he has achieved. I’m pleased that Clare Connor has agreed to step into the role on an interim basis while this process is under way."