MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Kevin Roberts Tuesday confirmed his resignation from the role.
The Cricket Australia board accepted his resignation and announced the appointment of Nick Hockley, currently chief executive of the ICC T20 World Cup, as interim chief executive, effective immediately.
Roberts said earlier this month the domestic game stood to lose A$80 million ($54.55 million) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with fans barred from stadiums and the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in Australia in October likely to be postponed.
However, with India’s tour for December all but confirmed and spectators expected to return to stadiums from next month as COVID-19 infections dwindle, some media pundits have said Roberts exaggerated the financial strain, Reuters reports.
CA chairman Earl Eddings said Cricket Australia would conduct an international search for a new chief executive to lead the organisation as cricket prepares to spring back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The leadership change comes ahead of an operational reset for the organisation to be detailed later in the week. The executive and board have been preparing an amended FY21 plan in response to COVID-19 and to reinvigorate cricket in a changed operating environment.
Eddings said: “Cricket, like all national sports, has been going through a period of significant change and – in recent months we have had the added uncertainty delivered by COVID-19.
“The entire cricket community has been affected and difficult decisions have been – and will continue to be necessary – to ensure that cricket at every level is in the best shape it can be now and in the future.
“It is essential that Cricket Australia continues to provide strong leadership and works constructively with everyone who has an interest in the future of the game – the players, all employees, the state associations, commercial partners and supporters.”
During his eight years at CA, initially as a board member and more recently as chief executive – Roberts oversaw the highly successful Women’s T20 World Cup, record levels of funding directed to community cricket and breakthroughs in areas such as gender pay equity and participation.
Roberts said: “It’s been a privilege to lead and serve the sport I love as CEO of Cricket Australia. Our team of staff and players are outstanding people who contribute so much to the game and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together. I’d like to thank the army of volunteers in communities across the country who are the lifeblood of our sport, enabling kids to experience the game and to dream about emulating their heroes in our national teams. As a lifelong and passionate member of the cricket community, I look forward to seeing the game thrive into the future.”
Eddings said Hockley had earned the respect of the cricket community through his leadership of ICC T20 World Cup and would be able to hit the ground running.
Hockley was appointed as CEO of ICC T20 World Cup 2020 in 2017, bringing more than 13 years’ major event experience to the role.
Hockley has overseen the dedicated Local Organising Committee responsible for coordinating all aspects of standalone Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups, including marketing, ticketing, hospitality, logistics, cricket operations, volunteering and security.
Prior career experience includes senior commercial roles with the organising committees of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
Before his work in major events, Hockley held senior corporate finance roles at PwC, where he also qualified as a chartered accountant.
