Tom Harrison steps down as English Cricket Board CEO; Clare Connor taking over as interim | Cricket News

After a chastening year for England cricket in which they suffered a 4-0 Ashes thrashing to Australia, lost a Test series to West Indies sacked head coach Chris Silverwood, assistant Graham Thorpe and MD Ashley Giles, Tom Harrison has now departed

Tom Harrison is stepping down as ECB CEO, with Clare Connor taking over as interim

Tom Harrison is stepping down from his position of CEO of the ECB, with Clare Connor to take over in an interim capacity.

Harrison, who played cricket professionally with Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, became the ECB’s CEO in January 2015, having previously been head of marketing between 2003 and 2006.

He also oversaw the ECB’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, though some of the goodwill he earned for his handling of that turbulent period and his own decision to take a voluntary pay cut dissipated when he accepted a large bonus earlier this year.

He and a group of senior management shared a pot worth around £2.1million based on a long-term incentive plan, drawing criticism due to the 62 redundancies made by the governing body as a result of Covid-19.

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.”

Connor, currently managing director of England women’s cricket, has agreed to become interim CEO when Harrison leaves until a permanent successor is in post.

Brendon McCullum has been appointed new head coach of the England men’s Test team

England parted company with head coach Chris Silverwood, assistant coach Graham Thorpe and managing director of men’s cricket Ashley Giles in the wake of the 4-0 Ashes thrashing to Australia in the winter, but Harrison previously said he had no intention of “running away.”

The last year has also seen a racism scandal at Yorkshire in addition to the Ashes defeat, as well as a 1-0 Test series defeat to the West Indies in March.

England had lost 10 and won just one of their previous 14 Test matches under Silverwood, failing to pass 300 even once during a dismal Ashes campaign.

Brendon McCullum has since been appointed new head coach of the England men’s Test team, with the red and white ball head coaching roles split under new managing director of England men’s cricket Rob Key.