Former Surrey man Richard Gould has been confirmed as the new chief executive at the ECB after beating Durham boss Tim Bostock to the top job.
Gould, left Surrey in 2021 after ten years to become chief executive at Bristol City football club, but has made a swift return to the game he has extensive experience in having also been in charge at Somerset county cricket club for six years between 2005 and 2011.
A former tank commander in the British Army, Gould, 52, is an excellent choice having carved out a hugely successful sports administrative career with a proven track record of commercial success as well as collaborative engagement across communities and partners.
And as an architect of the ACE programme at Surrey to unearth and support cricketing talent in the Black community, along with Thompson, Gould is an ideal person to lead the ECB and the game through its current crisis surrounding discrimination and division as epitomised by ongoing issues at clubs such as Yorkshire, Essex and Northamptonshire.
The son of former footballer and manager Bobby Gould was a strong voice in opposition to The Hundred which remains another divisive issue in the game, but he is also pragmatic and will work to find a solution for the tournament and the rest of the game that makes the most of its contractual obligations over the next two years.
He will take up his role in January once he has left Bristol City and he insists that the ECB can still make good on its promise to make cricket the most inclusive game of all.
Gould said: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead our game forward in England and Wales as part of a talented and committed team that encompasses the ECB, every cricket club in the land, all the counties, our partners, sponsors, fans and the army of players and volunteers that support the game in every corner of our country.
“Cricket is a national asset that can be played by all and helps strengthen and enhance communities across the nation. It can inspire the country and provides opportunities for all. But we have also seen the pain suffered by those who have experienced discrimination. We are determined to repair this damage and show that cricket can become the most inclusive and welcoming sport of all.
“I look forward to taking up the role in the new year, but for now will be an armchair fan supporting our men’s team in the T20 World Cup in Australia, whilst the women prepare for their T20 World Cup challenge in February.”
With two ex-Surrey chiefs now installed at the top of English cricket, there is also a chance that a third is on the way with Alec Stewart, Surrey's director of cricket leading the race to become the next National Selector of England men's cricket.
The job has been advertised and the process is well underway, but as with every senior England coaching position recently appointed, the preferred candidates are sought out beforehand.
