Roger Knight to succeed Doug Insole as ECC Chairman

Roger Knight, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), will succeed Doug Insole CBE as Chairman of the European Cricket Council (ECC), it was confirmed today.

The appointment was made at the ECC's Annual General Meeting held at Lord's Cricket Ground on Thursday with Mr Insole standing down after nine years in the role.

Mr Knight will assume the chair on 1 October, taking it up at the end of a 13-year term at the head of the MCC's administration.

His nomination was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with its Management Board fully supporting the nomination.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Knight said: ""To take on this role is a great privilege and honour. Having been involved for a long time in the development of cricket in Europe, I look forward now to chairing the Council and taking a full part in an exciting period for the game in Europe's 27 member countries. With three European countries in the ICC Cricket World Cup in March 2007, it is clear that playing standards are being raised. At the same time the number of countries, where cricket is played in Europe, has increased dramatically. It is ECC's role to help this growth to continue and to raise the level higher still."

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: "Roger has been a great supporter of cricket development throughout the world, serving on the ICC Development Committee, and has actively supported the ECC through its formative years.

"He brings a wealth of experience as the incoming Chairman of the ECC which is fortunate to have such an outstanding person to succeed Doug Insole. ECB wishes Roger every success in his new role."

Paying tribute to Mr Insole's contribution to the ECC, Mr Collier added: "We are hugely grateful to the work Doug has done for Europe's 27 member countries over the last nine years as Chairman.

"He was instrumental in the formation of the ECC and has built a solid foundation of the organization over that time."

Mr Insole will succeed Mr Robin Marlar as MCC President on 1 October.