Lavender marches into top MCC post

MCC have appointed Guy Lavender as their next chief executive. Lavender, who has impressed MCC with an impressive army background as well as his success in the chief executive's role at Somerset, joins MCC in September before taking up the role officially on October 1, no doubt with military precision.

The MCC Committee unanimously ratified Lavender's appointment on Wednesday evening after a recommendation from the nominations committee, overseen by MCC chairman Gerald Corbett, which was charged with finding a successor to Derek Brewer.

Lavender has supervised a successful period at Somerset in his six years at the club. The county has become one of English cricket's hotbeds for T20, has a bouyant membership and came close to winning the Championship for the first time last season only to miss out in a three-way shake-up on the final day.

Substantial ground improvements have also led to Somerset staging their first international T20 when South Africa visit Taunton in June. All achieved, it seems, while avoiding the severest financial pressures afflicting many county clubs.

Andy Nash, Somerset's chairman, did not stint on his praise. "Guy has been a huge success as our CEO and leaves the club a rich legacy of ODI and IT20 status, vastly improved facilities, a strong united culture and a business model which has become an acknowledged financial powerhouse and exemplar in the game.

Lavender's military bearing owes much to 18 years in the British Army, with the Parachute Regiment and UK Special Forces, before leaving at 39 as a lieutenant colonel.

During his military career, Lavender led operations in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. On leaving the forces, he led South West England's preparations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which saw the successful completion of the sailing venue at Weymouth and Portland to budget a year ahead of schedule.

He then moved to Cornwall as the Managing Director of Wave Hub, a £42M public sector project based off the north coast in Hayle which successfully installed an offshore test site for companies developing wave energy.

Corbett said: "In a competitive field, Guy was the outstanding candidate. He has impeccable leadership credentials, which you would expect of someone who was one of the youngest lieutenant colonels in the British Army. He has a proven track record of project and strategic management and excellent commercial skills and experience.

"This is one of the biggest jobs in the cricketing world, and in appointing Guy, we can be confident that MCC will continue to play an important part in the development of the global game."

MCC president, Matthew Fleming, himself a former officer in the Royal Green Jackets, said: "Guy has an immensely high standing in the game, and his success in helping to make Somerset a force on and off the field is clear for all to see."