Clare Connor has been appointed to the new role of Managing Director, Women’s Cricket while David Mahoney has been named Chief Operating Officer.

The moves each fit the purpose and delivery of the new game-wide strategy for 2020-24, Inspiring Generations, which has been developed over the last 12 months.

Speaking about the appointments, Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “Both these moves, for Clare and David, are key steps in us building a stronger future for ECB and the game. We have a new strategy for 2020-24 and we must be ready to deliver and continue our growth across the game.

“The women’s and girls’ game is one of our six core priorities and, given the strong and consistent growth of the women’s game and the opportunities we have created, Clare will now take responsibility from grassroots through to the England team as Managing Director, Women’s Cricket.

“David and his team have driven the creation of this new strategy, which will help shape the game in England and Wales for years to come. His new role as Chief Operating Officer will see this embedded through the organisation and ensure that we are focused and efficient in delivering the strategy.”

On becoming Managing Director, Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor said: “I am thrilled to be taking up this role at a hugely exciting time for the women’s game. We have seen real progress in the past few years with the introduction of central contracts for England women, the birth of the Kia Super League and more girls than ever before picking up cricket bats. This new strategy and the associated levels of investment will help us continue to grow the game for women and girls, thereby giving us the best chance of becoming more relevant to more people.”

David moves from his role as Chief Strategy Officer after overseeing the development of the new strategy. Prior to joining the ECB, David held a number of senior roles at Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.

ECB Chief Operating Officer David Mahoney said: “Developing the strategy was a collaborative process involving people from across the game. In my new role, I will make sure the new strategy is at the heart of everything we do. To do that we need to continue to work collaboratively with the cricket network and ensure that ECB and its culture is fit for purpose to deliver the new strategy. We must make sure that we are investing in the right areas if we are to grow our sport.”

Last week ECB announced that Gordon Hollins will take up the role of Managing Director, County Cricket; Sanjay Patel will focus on the development of the New Competition as its Managing Director and Tony Singh will join ECB in April as Chief Commercial Officer.

Courtesy of the ECB

• Hampshire Cricket with partners: Berkshire Cricket Ltd, Dorset Cricket Board, Isle of Wight Cricket Board, Oxfordshire Cricket, Southampton Solent University, Sussex Cricket Ltd, Wiltshire Cricket Ltd
• Lancashire County Cricket Board with partners: Lancashire County Cricket Club, Lancashire County Cricket Club Foundation
• Loughborough University
• South West: Somerset County Cricket Club, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, University of Exeter
• Surrey County Cricket Club
• Yorkshire County Cricket Club

The announcement follows a rigorous host award process over the last six months, which included an initial expression-of-interest and invitation-to-tender phase followed by prospective hosts being invited to interview at the end of 2015.  The process culminated in unanimous ECB Board approval of the six selected hosts today.

The Women’s Cricket Super League will start in the summer of 2016 with the six teams competing in a Twenty20 (T20) event.  In future seasons the competition will include both T20 and 50-over formats.  All six teams have been awarded hosting rights for a four-year period from 2016-2019 inclusive.

Tom Harrison, Chief Executive of the ECB, said: “This is a key day in the creation of the Women’s Cricket Super League – we have now secured the six hosts for the start of the competition this summer.

“The bidding process for obtaining the hosts was competitive from the outset, and throughout the interviews, alongside my colleagues on the panel, I was very impressed by all of the proposals submitted.

“It is pleasing to see so much diverse and innovative partnership working across the cricket and educational landscapes and that the six chosen hosts provide such a strong geographical spread.  To have seven First Class counties, five Non-First Class counties and three universities involved, demonstrates how collaborative, imaginative and wide-ranging this project is.”

ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, added: “It has been remarkable to see the enthusiasm that the Women’s Cricket Super League has generated.  The award process has provided a real catalyst for a wide range of organisations to think differently about their individual and collaborative cricket offer for women and girls, and how they can positively shape the future of the game.  It is not just the final six hosts who are behind the growth of the women’s game, but a range of parties and people who have been engaged throughout this search.

“Our vision for the Women’s Cricket Super League is to create an exciting, dynamic and high quality domestic women’s game in England, where the world’s best players come together to drive performance standards and to inspire women and girls to love cricket.  All six of the confirmed hosts have passionately demonstrated that they share this aspiration and we are now really excited to work with them to deliver this next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket in this country.”

The key aims of the Women’s Cricket Super League include the development of ever higher standards for the England women’s team with greater competition for places, alongside inspiring more women and girls to play cricket at all levels.  It will offer new opportunities, a new narrative for the game and new role models, as well as a network of host clubs linked to their communities.

Further details on the format and timing of the Women’s Cricket Super League, along with confirmed team names and identities, will be announced in due course.

Additional information about the host award process and the Women’s Cricket Super League can be found here.

Report courtesy of the ECB.