Strong named 2015 World Cup chairman

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket have appointed businessman James Strong as the chairman of the organising committee of the 2015 World Cup which will be held in Australia and New Zealand. Strong is the chairman of the retail chain Woolworths Limited, a non-executive director of Qantas Airways Limited, chairman of Kathmandu Holdings and the chairman of the Australian Council for the Arts. Another businessman, New Zealand's Ralph Waters, has been named deputy chairman.

"I am absolutely delighted to be involved in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup to be jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia. Both countries have a great track record of organising major sporting events, and share a passion for cricket," Strong said. "The recent ICC 2011 Cricket World Cup showcased one-day cricket as a fast paced and highly competitive form of a great game. We are working to develop an exciting tournament with matches in both countries, which will capture public imagination here and throughout the cricketing world."

Strong is also a member of the board of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation that stages the F1 Grand Prix in Australia and the Australian Motor Cycle Grand Prix. He will lead the committee overseeing the organisation and execution of the World Cup in 2015 and also appoint a chief executive officer.

The organising committee will reportedly comprise two representatives from CA and NZC and could potentially also include up to two additional independent appointees apart from an independent chairman. Australia and New Zealand co-hosted the 1992 World Cup as well.