No Rush For Cricket Australia In CEO Selection Process

Sudhanshu Pandey

1 month ago

No Rush For Cricket Australia In CEO Selection Process

Cricket Australia (CA) is on the lookout for a new CEO after Nick Hockley announced his decision to step down earlier this year. CA Chairman Mike Baird is in no rush to appoint a successor, choosing a measured and patient approach to ensure the right candidate takes over.

Mike Baird’s Approach

Mike Baird, CA’s chairman, has emphasized the importance of finding the right individual for the role, rather than rushing the process. Despite Hockley initially indicating a March exit, Baird is keeping the timeline flexible, hinting that Hockley may stay on longer if necessary. According to Baird, the search for Hockley’s replacement is progressing steadily, with significant interest from candidates both within and outside of Australia.

Baird said, “The process is under way. There is not surprisingly a huge amount of interest in the role. We will run through that in a considered way as a board, there is no rush. We want to make sure we get the right person for the next phase. Nick remains here and has a huge amount to do. We expect to be able to meet the timeline, but we’re very relaxed.”

Nick Hockley’s March Exit

Nick Hockley, who has served as CEO since 2020, initially flagged March 2024 as his intended exit date. Hockley has been at the helm during some of the most challenging years in recent memory, particularly in navigating the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

One name that stands out in the race to succeed Hockley is Todd Greenberg. Greenberg, the former CEO of the National Rugby League (NRL), has emerged as a front-runner for the position. In addition to Greenberg, several Cricket Australia executives are rumored to be in contention for the top job. While specific names have not been confirmed publicly, insiders suggest there is significant interest from within the organization.

Cricket Australia’s Financial Position

Cricket Australia recently reported an AU$31.9 million loss for the financial year, a result that was slightly better than expected. CA’s financial reserves took a substantial hit, with estimates suggesting that the sport lost around AU$100 million as a result of the pandemic. Despite this, the organization has managed to maintain AU$25.7 million in cash reserves, a figure that is expected to grow substantially over the next two years.

Chairman Mike Baird has projected that the organization’s reserves will surpass AU$70 million by the end of the next two years.

Baird said, “The expectation is at the end of these two years we will have reserves in excess of $70 million. It’s obviously a huge uplift relative to where we have been … we’re very bullish about the next two [summers] and it’s reflected in the forecast.”

In addition to the search for a new CEO, there have been some changes at the board level. At CA’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), directors Lachlan Henderson, Greg Rowell, and Clea Smith were all re-elected. Meanwhile, Paul Green announced his decision to step down as a director, marking another leadership change for Cricket Australia in this transitional period.

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