Collier named ECB Chief Executive

New ECB Chief Executive David Collier

David Collier, the current Chief Executive at Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, has been named as ECB's new Chief Executive.

David Morgan, ECB Chairman, said: "We were looking for someone with a strong business background coupled with a knowledge and love of cricket.

“David has both qualities. Not only has he successfully led Nottinghamshire CCC for the past five years, continuing to develop the ground into one of the most attractive cricket venues in the country, but he also has significant business experience both within and outside of cricket.

“He has left Nottinghamshire on a high, with the club having gained promotion to the top division of both the Frizzell County Championship and the totesport League as well as having sold out next summer's npower Test Match at Trent Bridge in just 48 hours.

"The search for the new Chief Executive was an extensive and competitive one. The Recruitment Consultants, Norman Broadbent, received a huge number of CVs and they subsequently interviewed close to 40 candidates before drawing up a shortlist of eight highly qualified people.

“I am delighted that David has accepted the role and I look forward to working with him as we continue to develop ECB and the game as a whole."

Collier said: "I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to lead ECB at such an exciting point in the game's history.

“During the past year the success of the England team, the increase in crowds at Twenty20 cricket, the development of young talent through the Academy system at both county and national level and the expansion of cricket being played at club and school level demonstrates that there are solid foundations for the future of cricket in England and Wales.

England face Australia in 2005

“In 2005 we shall be hosting an Ashes series in England, a series that is already being eagerly anticipated, when cricket will be the centre of attention in our sporting calendar.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues at ECB to complete a full review and strategic plan for the game before the start of next season and to building upon the positive changes which the ECB has implemented during the past year.

"My only regret is in leaving Trent Bridge, one of the best appointed and most friendly venues in world cricket. I should like to thank the members, staff, players and supporters at Nottinghamshire for a wonderful five years and I know that the club will go from strength to strength next summer in Division One."

Collier will particularly focus on the development of young players from grassroots to county and international standard and revealed the numbers of overseas players in the English game will be looked at.

“I’m a passionate believer that a successful England team is our greatest asset,” said Collier.

“Some £9million has gone into community clubs already and county clubs are starting to reap the benefits of investment over the years.

David Collier speaking at a press conference at Lord's

“We do have to focus on youngsters and make sure that they are coming through. Going on from school cricket to club cricket is essential if they are to develop into county players.

“It is important that as many young players as possible have the opportunity to benefit from centres of excellence and the best coaching available,” he said.

But Collier also maintains that foreign players have been good for the domestic game.

He added: “A lot of unqualified (for England) players have helped us raise the standard of the game so that is a delicate balancing act.

“We also have to operate within the law, EC law, so we are hamstrung by one or two guidelines.”

The ECB's interview panel comprised David Morgan (ECB Chairman), Mike Soper (Deputy Chairman), Dennis Amiss (Chairman ITMG), Clive Leach (Chairman Durham CCC) and Roger Moylan-Jones (ECB Management Board member).

The date when David will start work at the ECB will be announced in due course.

David Collier profile:

• Senior Management experience in the IT, Air Transportation and Sports Management Industries in the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa with a proven track record in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Operational Delivery.

• Professionally trained at Loughborough University with a degree in Sports Management. Post graduate training at Insead (Paris) - completion of course in Managing International Partnerships and Strategic Alliances and Wharton Business School (USA) - completion of course on Leading Multi-National Corporations attended by Presidents, Chief Executives and Senior VPs of America's leading companies.

• Captain of English Universities (UAU) at both hockey and cricket.

• Experience in global business as Senior Vice-President, American Airlines responsible for 74 countries and accountable for SABRE the world's leading Global Distribution System for the Travel Industry (annual turnover of operating division was £1.8 billion in 1993 delivering a 17.3% operating margin making the division the most profitable within the AMR Corporation - total turnover $15 billion). Led AMR Group Strategic Planning as VP Strategic Planning before leading the largest operational Division as SVP Europe, Middle East and Africa of American Airlines/SABRE.

• Developed Travel and Leisure Industry IT Division for Sema Group plc (CAP) including Fixture Programming for TCCB and Football League, IT for Barcelona Olympics, Consultancy for American Airlines, Consultancy for States of Guernsey re Sports Facilities, Brazilian Tourist Board Strategic Plan, EFTPOS introduction in UK, fly by wire technology for Airbus aircraft, systems infrastructure for IOC and media software for display captions.

• Experience on two International Sports Governing Bodies (Federation of International Hockey and the European Hockey Federation Promotions and Marketing Committee) and on a National Governing Body as a Director of ECB.

• Experience as Deputy General Manager of Essex County Cricket Club, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Chief Executive of Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club delivering a profit in each year of operation.

• Managed County pre-season tours to West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

• Former Minister of Sport's nominee to Sport England, Minister of Trade's nominee on British Airports Group and currently a Member of the East Midlands Tourism Board.

• Lived in Dallas, USA as well as in the UK and led Travel Industry Conferences for more than 3,000 travel agents in Edinburgh, San Diego, Paris, Munich, Nice, Dallas and Bangkok.

• Member of Minister of State (Home Office) and Minister of Sport's review body into Crowd Disorder at International Cricket.

• Extensive experience of key note speeches at global events including Pacific Rim Aviation Conference Bangkok, Centre of Strategic Studies Washington D.C., Thomas Cook Worldwide Conference Australia, led American Airlines team in discussions with DG4, DG7 and DG13 at E.C., led American Airlines sponsorship team at Soccer World Cup in USA, Barcelona Olympics and Dallas Cowboys.

• International hockey umpire.

• Member of Scholarship Committee, Loughborough University.

• Former Chairman of Leicestershire and Rutland Sports Federation.

• Member of East Midlands Tourism Board.

Career history:

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club - Chief Executive, 2000-2004
Staged Test Matches and One Day Internationals in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Ground developments of £12 million completed in past five years.
Led negotiations re Staging Agreement and led Change Management at the Club following conversion to an Industrial and Provident Society in 2000.

Leicestershire County Cricket Club - Chief Executive, 1996 - 2000
Staged 1999 World Cup hosting India. Above budget financial performance, two Championship wins and 8% rise in membership.

SERVISAIR plc - Managing Director, 1994 - 1996
Led International Development Team

AMR Corporation. 1989 - 1994
President - AMR Services
Senior Vice President Europe, Middle East and Africa
Vice President Strategic Planning
Concluded Joint Ventures in U.A.E., Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, France and Australia.
As Senior Vice President was responsible for the growth of SABRE AMR's most profitable division with a market valuation of $2.7 billion on turnover of $1.8 billion.
As Vice President Strategic Planning was responsible for the five year growth plan which delivered a 232% expansion in international activity for AMR in 1989-90 and included the American Airlines / British Airways co-operation discussions.

Sema Group plc - Group Marketing Manager, 1986 - 1989
Responsible for the development of a substantial portfolio including systems integration, facilities management, management and systems consultancy, bespoke development, training and support specialising in the application of technology in the Tourism, Leisure and Sports Industries. The SEMA Group is now Europe's leading systems company.

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club - Chief Executive, 1983 - 1986
Responsible for taking Gloucestershire from position of net assets of £20k in 1983 with record losses in previous four years to sustained profitability in each year from 1983 - 1986 increasing net assets to £200k.

Essex County Cricket Club, Assistant Secretary, 1979 - 1983
Responsible for marketing, fund raising, ground development, employment contracts and tour management.

Adams Sports Centre, WEM
Deputy Manager Marketing, centre management, Local Authority administration, sales, coaching and administration.

Personal details:

Place of birth: Leicester
Date of birth: 22.4.55
Marital Status: Married (Jenny)
Children: Zoe (21, reading Spanish at Oxford), Simon (19, reading Geography at Durham) and Mark (16, at Oakham School).
Driving licence: Yes
Gliding Pilot's Licence: Yes
Degree: B.Sc (Hons)