Essex County Cricket Club can today announce an action plan for the future Governance of the Club’s Board.
In total, there will be eight Board vacancies filled this year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Club’s Constitution permits the appointment of three vacancies at the discretion of the Board to replace those vacated by the resignation of three Board Members. A further five vacancies will be filled through a Members’ election process in September 2022.
Following the conclusion of the Members’ Ballot and 2022 AGM, one of the nine appointed Directors will be assigned the role of being the new Chair of Essex County Cricket Club.
The formation of a Nominations Committee will take place ahead of the AGM with the sole responsibility of planning, reviewing and recommending potential candidates.
The Nominations Committee will also hold interviews with potential candidates and provide the Board with three recommendations for the immediate appointments, as well as formulating a set of endorsed candidates for the Members’ ballot process.
The Members’ ballot will conclude in September with the successfully elected candidates being announced at the AGM, which is set to take place by the end of the cricket season at The Cloud County Ground.
An information and application pack will be sent to Members via email in July with the aim of canvassing driven, passionate and committed candidates from within the current Membership. The Club will also welcome applications from other affiliated people who can demonstrate desirable expertise.
Members will also have an opportunity to join the Members’ Committee, which will feed into the Nominations Committee to help shape Club decisions. This Committee will include three representatives from the Membership and elected through a separate ballot that will run in parallel with the Board voting process.
In order to ensure a professional, transparent and robust process the Club will be utilising the support of leading international executive search firm, Perrett Laver.
Key Action Plan Milestones:
• Early July: The application process is open to Members and other external candidates
• Early September: Ballot packs sent to Members
• Late September: Ballot voting process closes
• Early-Mid October: Annual General Meeting held
This action plan will not be affected by the ongoing independent investigation into historical allegations of discrimination at the Club. The investigation by Katharine Newton QC will support the implementation of long-term governance reform.
The Club will be working with the ECB and are committed to any required reforms being put into effect by early 2023.
Essex Cricket Chief Executive and Interim Chair, John Stephenson commented: “This is an important period in the Club’s future to form an adept Board, which will only be achieved through a full, transparent, and consistent recruitment process for the vacancies on the Board.
“We have a high number of vacancies to fill and will be an opportunity for the Membership to appoint a new Board who will bring a broad skill set, stability, and compliance to the Club, in line with the Constitution and England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) County Governance Framework.
“We are working closely with the ECB to become fully compliant, and I would like to encourage our Members to be part of this process for the benefit of the Club now and in the years to come.
“A host of Members’ events will be scheduled in the coming weeks to share our action plan in greater detail and provide an opportunity for interested Members to find out more information on the roles and process.”
Neil Snowball, England and Wales Cricket Board Managing Director of County Cricket, added: “We welcome the action plan that John and the Essex CCC Board have developed which sets out a positive way forward for the Club.
“We will continue to offer advice or support to the Board as required over the coming months.”
Date For Your Diary: Members’ Forum
The Club will be holding a Members’ Forum after play (6:30pm) on Day Two of the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Gloucestershire on Tuesday 12 July.
The Forum will be an opportunity to hear the latest Club news from John Stephenson and Vice-Chair, Simon Cooper, including further information on the Club’s Governance Action Plan.
Supporters will be able to attend the event in person at The Cloud County Ground, whilst there will also be an opportunity to watch via the Zoom conferencing platform. Prior to the event, an invite will be sent to Members for those who cannot attend in person.
