Neil Snowball to leave chief executive role at Edgbaston for ECB post

Warwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball is to leave Edgbaston to join the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Snowball has been selected as the new managing director of County Cricket at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and he will depart Edgbaston to take on his new role later in the year.
Snowball was appointed as Warwickshire chief executive at the beginning of 2016.

Edgbaston Stadium has become renowned as one of the best cricket venues in the world having hosted the ICC Champions Trophy twice, staged the first ever day/night Test Match in England in 2017, whilst also cementing its position as the home of  Vitality Blast Finals Day.

In 2019, Edgbaston hosted five marquee fixtures in the hugely successful ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which eventually saw England crowned as champions, and it also staged a record-breaking Ashes Test match in the drawn series with Australia.

During Snowball’s period in charge of the club, there has been success on the pitch for the men’s team with the Royal London Cup win over Surrey in 2016 and the Division 2 Championship in 2018. Alongside this, there has been an increased focus on the development of homegrown talent through the Warwickshire Academy and greater investment and profile for Women’s Cricket, which has led to a first piece of domestic silverware in the women’s game in 2019 as the Bears Women were crowned T20 champions.

Mark McCafferty, Warwickshire CCC chairman, said: “We were very disappointed to receive Neil’s resignation. However, we appreciate that it’s an excellent opportunity for him as he pursues the next phase of his career. “Undoubtedly the extensive experience that he’s gained during his four years at Edgbaston will provide him with an excellent platform to take on his new role.

“At Warwickshire, we are embarking on a new five-year strategy for the Club that will build on the success of 2019 and continuing our excellent partnership with Birmingham City Council and our other key stakeholders. It’s set to be a very exciting time as we look to continue being a leader and innovator during the next phase of growth and development of the game.

“The board and I will commence a thorough process in order to identify and appoint a successor to Neil who will remain in place over that period in order to ensure that there is an orderly transition.”

Snowball said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Warwickshire and I am grateful to the chairman and our board of directors for giving me the opportunity to lead such a great club, and for all of their support over the last four years.

“We have an incredible group of people at Warwickshire including the staff, players, members and supporters and this has been a very difficult decision for me to make. However, I feel very proud of what we have achieved together over the last four years and I am confident that the club is in good shape both on and off the field.

“With Mark McCafferty as our new chairman, supported by a strong board and an outstanding senior management team, the club is in good hands and this is a great time for a new chief executive to come in and make their mark.

“I will look forward to working with them all as I take up my new role later in the year.”