ACB appoints new General Manager, Cricket Operations

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today that Hawthorn Football Club Chief Executive Officer Michael Brown has been appointed as ACB General Manager, Cricket Operations.

Mr Brown, who joins Australian cricket after five years at Hawthorn, will head the ACB Cricket Operations department and be part of the ACB senior management team.

He will be responsible for elite level cricket in Australia, including Test and one-day international teams, player contracts, domestic and international programming and umpiring.

Prior to his stint with Hawthorn, Mr Brown spent more than five years at Australia's largest family-owned funeral company, Tobin Brothers, finishing his tenure as General Manager.

From 1990 to 1992, Mr Brown was the North Melbourne Football Club's Football Manager.

The 45-year-old is expected to start his new role in December.

Current General Manager, Cricket Operations, Richard Watson, will take on a new, specialist role as International Cricket Manager. Mr Watson's role is part of the ACB's increased focus on the international component of its administration.