WACA responds angrly to CEO rumours

Western Australian Cricket Association Chairman Mr Charles Fear has reacted angrily to media claims that WACA CEO Mrs Kath White was asked to retire.

Mr Fear said Mrs White foreshadowed her decision to retire two months ago.

Mr Fear asked Mrs White to rethink her position but after much consideration Mrs White decided to retire and join her husband who will travel overseas next year on business.

Mrs White made her final decision a month ago but was asked by Mr Fear to hold off on announcing her decision until after the Test match against Zimbabwe.

"Comments made in the media that suggest Mrs White has been asked to stand down from the CEO position are palpably incorrect," Mr Fear said.

"They are misguided and indeed mischievous."

"Like any CEO doing their jobs properly, Mrs White has had to make some hard decisions, some of which may not have always been popular, but the WACA Executive Committee has wholly endorsed these decisions."

Mr Brian Rakich, WACA President for the past five years and WACA Executive Member for nearly 30 years said the talk in the media was baseless.

"Kath enjoys the overwhelming support of the Executive Committee under no circumstances has she been asked to resign."

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said he was disappointed to hear of Mrs White's retirement.

"I know Kath has been grappling with this over the last few months and it has been a difficult decision for her to make," he said.

"Not only has Kath made a significant contribution to the WACA over the last two years but she has enhanced the way Cricket Australia and state associations work together at management level."

Some of WA cricket's most influential cricket administrators were equally scathing in their criticism of the mischievous rumours and refute any suggestion that Mrs White was asked to retire.

WACA Executive and I & I member Wally Edwards commended Mrs White for her service to WA cricket.

"Kath has done a fantastic job at the WACA, particularly in the Cricket Department and the work on the new Constitution and governance issues," said the former Test batsman.

"She has made an outstanding contribution. We knew of her impending decision to retire and the reasons for it over a month ago. To suggest that she has been asked to leave the WACA is ludicrous."

Mr Edwards view was supported most strongly by Mr Bob Paulsen the current Chairman of the I & I committee.

"Kath White has performed her role as WACA CEO with distinction following many years of service to the Association on sub-committees and as the Association's first female Executive Committee member," he said.

"In my view WACA Members and the cricket public should not be swayed by baseless media commentary that she has done anything more than make a private decision to retire."

Chairman of the Cricket Council Mr Peter Murphy said that Mrs White had been the driver in the revamp of the Cricket Council.

"Kath took the Cricket Council into a new-world operation and ensured a more professional footing for the future," he said.

"There is now a clearer definition of roles between the Council and the staff and the council is operating very productively."

WACA Members' Representative and Chairman of the Business Development Sub-committee, Paul Sullivan, also confirmed his emphatic support for the work done by Mrs White.

"The qualities that Kath has brought to the WACA over the past few years have been many, including a clarity of purpose as to her role and a quiet resolve to achieve the Association's goals," he said.

"More particularly, I have been struck by her integrity in all her dealings with others, including our members and staff, our sponsors, and the Executive.

"It seems rare, these days, for an organisation to arrange an orderly handover from an incumbent CEO to a new appointee and Kath's decision to announce her intentions for next year at this time has greatly advantaged the WACA in that regard."

Leading Perth Architect Mr James Christou, who worked closely with the WACA Executive and staff on the WACA's 12 million dollar redevelopment expressed shock at the scurrilous rumours that had been circulated about Mrs White.

"Mrs White has done an absolutely fabulous job at the WACA. She has helped change the culture of the WACA. It is now positive and forward looking."

Mr Gerry Ford of BGC Construction said that he had worked closely with Mrs White at the WACA and it was obvious to him that under Kath's stewardship the WACA had leapt forward in achievement and attitude. He said that she would be sorely missed.