Cricket Scotland: Racecourse Association chairman Wilf Walsh to head new board
- Published
Cricket Scotland has appointed Racecourse Association chairman Wilf Walsh to head its board as it continues making major governance changes after an independent report last year found hundreds of examples of institutional racism.
He replaces Anjan Luthra, who resigned after less than six months in the role.
Luthra stepped down in March, days after four members of Cricket Scotland's equality, diversity and inclusion advisory group resigned over a perceived lack of progress.
Englishman Walsh, chairman of Nestware Holdings, which owns a number of carpet and flooring firms, joins four other new directors on the governing body's board.
"The appointments will ensure Cricket Scotland reaches the minimum target of 25 per cent of total board make-up being from Black, South East Asian, or other mixed or multiple ethnic groups," Cricket Scotland stated.
"A further requirement of the action plan concerning diversity is that the Cricket Scotland board should be made up of a minimum of 40 per cent men and 40 per cent women.
"This threshold will be met once Trudy Lindblade replaces Pete Fitzboydon and commences her role as chief executive officer in early 2024."
The four new independent non-executive directors include two women, plus Marleybone Cricket Club director of cricket and operations Jamie Cox.
Former Somerset and Tasmania captain Cox scored more than 18,500 first-class runs and has since held positions with the Australian Institute of Sport, Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania.
Also appointed is independent Oxford councillor Shaista Aziz, a journalist and anti-racism campaigner who co-founded the Three Hijabis group, which works with Government and sporting bodies.
Tricia Bey, who holds positions on the court of the University of Dundee and the audit committee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, will be a finance expert on the new-look board.
Bey previously worked in finance and management consultancy and has her own Ayrshire-based cheese-making business.
The other new director is BT Group chief digital officer Harry Singh.
They will join existing board members Ajit Trivedi, Chris Blake, Khizar Ali and outgoing chief executive Pete Fitzboydon. Clubs are also set to vote on major governance changes.