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The search for a new chief executive has begun at Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), as current executive Guy Lavender has stepped down to take on the same position at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The owners of Lord’s and the keepers of the rules of the game, MCC, are going through a transitional phase with a lot of turnover in important positions. In October, Mark Nicholas will succeed Bruce Carnegie-Brown as the club’s chairman, while Mervyn King will take Nicholas’ place as president. Jamie Cox was replaced as director of cricket and operations earlier this year by Rob Lynch.
Lavender was called a “outstanding CEO” by Carnegie-Brown in the MCC statement announcing his departure. According to the club, his main accomplishments were steering MCC through the Covid epidemic, carrying on with Lord’s renovation, guaranteeing solid financial outcomes, and organising significant events, like as the 2019 men’s 50-over World Cup final.
In addition, he has been actively involved in talks over the future of the Hundred with the ECB and the club’s members. Later this year, MCC is expected to receive a 51% share in London Spirit. The ECB will sell the remaining 49% centrally, and according to Nicholas’ recent comments, other IPL teams have expressed interest.
“It has been an immense honour and privilege to have been CEO of this great club,” Lavender said. “I have every confidence that MCC will go from strength to strength. The committed, excellent and diligent staff across the club do a superb job in support of the membership and make the MCC the wonderful club it is.”
According to MCC, the club has already begun the process of selecting a replacement, and later this year, its nominations committee will take the lead in this endeavour. In order to facilitate a “smooth transition period” prior to his departure, the club further stated that Lavender will “continue to fulfil his duties at MCC”.