The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced their new CEO as Richard Gould, current CEO of Bristol City Football Club.

Chosen for the role through a unanimous recommendation by the ECB board, the 52-year-old Gould will join the national governing body of cricket in England and Wales from the end of January 2023, while the national squad is on tour in South Africa.

As a former CEO at both Somerset County Cricket Club and Surrey County Cricket Club, Gould brings significant leadership experience, gained across different sporting codes, to the ECB.

Having previously launched the ACE Programme, now an independent charity that works to engage children and young people from black communities with cricket, while working with Surry in 2020, part of Gould’s new role will be the pursuit of making cricket the most inclusive sport in England.

Commenting on his new appointment, Gould sad: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead our game forward in England and Wales as part of a talented and committed team that encompasses the ECB, every cricket club in the land, all the counties, our partners, sponsors, fans and the army of players and volunteers that support the game in every corner of our country.”

“Cricket is a national asset that can be played by all and helps strengthen and enhance communities across the nation.

“It can inspire the country and provides opportunities for all. But we have also seen the pain suffered by suffered by those who have experienced discrimination. We are determined to repair this damage and show that cricket can become the most inclusive and welcoming sport of all,” he said.

ECB chair, Richard Thompson, added: “When I joined the ECB, I said that this was a reset moment for our organisation and our sport.”

“Recruiting a CEO who can lead the organisation forwards and deliver on the vision of becoming the UK’s most inclusive sport was one of the first important steps in that.

“With his outstanding leadership skills and experience of managing transformation, the Nominations Committee felt that Richard Gould was the outstanding candidate,” he said.

Former captain of the national women’s team, Clare Connor, who also holds the role a managing director for women’s cricket with the ECB, stepped in as interim CEO following the departure of Tom Harrison, and will continue in the role until Gould arrives.

The new appointment follows the long-term extension of the ECB’s media rights with Sky Sports.