Ashley Giles: Worcestershire appoint ex-England & Warwickshire boss as chief executive

Despite having three times been on the Warwickshire payroll, first as player, then coach, Ashley Giles lived just across the Worcestershire border

Ashley Giles has been appointed as the new chief executive of Worcestershire.

The 50-year-old former Warwickshire and England slow left-arm spinner returns to cricket for the first time since leaving his role as England managing director in February 2022.

Giles took on the lead England role in 2018 after two successful coaching spells at Warwickshire, either side of a stint with Lancashire.

But he left in the fallout of England's 4-0 Ashes thrashing by Australia.

"I am absolutely honoured and thrilled," said Giles, who will start in his new role on 3 July.

"Having resided in Worcestershire for 25 years, having married and raised my children here, I have developed a deep appreciation for the club's rich history and recognise the immense potential."

Having been spoken to by both Warwickshire and Worcestershire over the winter, Giles' appointment by the Pears ends a near 11-month search to find a new main man, the club having originally advertised for the position of director of cricket.

Former Worcestershire fast bowler Paul Pridgeon, chair of the county's cricket steering group, and county chairman Fanos Hira have carried on overseeing the club in that time.

Pridgeon, now 69, was due to stand down at the end of last season.

What will Giles' role be at New Road?

Giles will oversee the Pears playing side, currently headed by his former Bears team-mate Alan Richardson, who worked under Giles in his second spell as Warwickshire boss.

Giles will also have responsibility for the restructured off-field team led by head of finance Sarah Gluyas, newly promoted head of commercial and partnerships Joe Tromans and head of operation Helen Grayer.

Hira added: "Ashley's unparalleled expertise and exceptional track record in cricket administration make him the definitive choice.

"We possess utmost confidence that his dynamic leadership and unwavering passion will serve as indispensable assets."

Ashes 2005 - The highlight of Giles career

It is a nice coincidence that Giles' official return to cricket should come on the eve of another Ashes series, starting at Edgbaston on Friday.

Surrey-born Giles, who first joined the Warwickshire playing staff in 1993, took 539 first-class wickets and claimed 272 scalps in a professional career that lasted until 2007.

That included 143 scalps in 54 Tests for England - the highlight of which was being part of the team that famously won the Ashes for the first time in 18 years in 2005.

But, after enjoying success with Warwickshire as coach, following his retirement as a player, he left Edgbaston for the first time to take charge of England's one-day and Twenty20 teams following the Bears' 2012 title triumph.

He was also a national team selector from 2008 to 2014, then spent two years as head coach and cricket director with Lancashire until 2016 before returning to Edgbaston for his second spell on the management side with Warwickshire as director of sport.

He was then in overall charge, having replaced Andrew Strauss a year earlier, when England won the one-day World Cup in 2019.