Essex appoint barrister Anu Mohindru as new chair on permanent basis

Essex finished second in the County Championship in 2023

Essex have appointed barrister Anu Mohindru as the club's new chair on a permanent basis.

Mohindru, who had been acting as interim deputy chair since December, replaces Sir Stephen O'Brien.

O'Brien had been filling the role temporarily after Azeem Akhtar stood down while the club conducted a review into historical social media content.

Mohindru said he was "honoured" to take on the role "at an important time for the club".

As part of the "long-planned" changes to the board's leadership at Essex, Victoria Keil has been named as deputy chair, while Mr O'Brien will stay on as a board member.

The announcements come after Essex were placed under a 'non-compliance process' by the England and Wales Cricket Board in May.

This was put in place after the club were found to have "fallen significantly short" on board diversity targets with a new governance plan set up in June.

Earlier this week, Essex received the independent report on historical allegations of racism at the club, commissioned in November 2021.

That report was ordered following a number of allegations by several former players that they suffered racial abuse during their time at the club.

Essex were at the same time also fined £50,000 by the ECB for a racist comment made at a board meeting in 2017.

In a statement, Essex said the new board "is fully committed to continuing the work that has already been carried out in creating an inclusive and welcoming club for everyone" and will now consider the report "and its recommendations".

The club reiterated its "zero-tolerance policy towards racism" and said it "remains committed to eradicating any forms of discrimination within cricket".