Ebony Rainford-Brent to complete new-look ECB board

The former England international, who has achieved prominence as a broadcaster and campaigner for equality in cricket over recent years, is set to have her new role ratified at the governing body's annual general meeting on Wednesday (May 10)

Ebony Rainford-Brent is set to become a non-executive director of the ECB.

The former England international, who has achieved prominence as a broadcaster and campaigner for equality in cricket over recent years, is set to have her new role ratified at the governing body's annual general meeting on Wednesday (May 10).

Rainford-Brent is joined by sports development industry expert Pete Ackerley.

Ebony Rainford-Brent on Sky Sports duty [Getty Images]

Pete Ackerley, pictured in 2009 [Getty Images]

Ackerley has previously been the ECB's head of development and has sat on its participation and growth board. He is currently chief executive of the British American Football Association, and chair of trustees of Wembley National Stadium Trust.

Once approved, the pair will complete a new-look board under the leadership of chair Richard Thompson, and complete the break from the previous administration.

Thompson, his chief executive Richard Gould and the rest of the governing body's senior leadership face a major task in pulling cricket together and finding a route forward for the game in a harsh economic environment and against the backdrop of the recent CDC rulings into allegations of historic racism at Yorkshire and the imminent Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report, which is expected to be damning of the sport's inclusivity and diversity records in the recent past. 

ECB BOARD 

(if ratified at May 10 AGM)

Richard Thompson, chair

Pete Ackerley, cricket non-executive director

Penny Avis, independent non-executive director

Katie Bickerstaffe, senior independent non-executive director

Alan Dickinson, cricket non-executive director

Richard Gould, chief executive

Sir Ron Kailfa, independent non-executive director

Baroness Zahida Manzoor, independent non-executive director

Jennifer Owen Adams, cricket non-executive director

Ebony Rainford-Brent, non-executive director

Scott Smith, chief financial officer

Gareth Williams, cricket non-executive director

They must also work with counties and the women's domestic structure to establish a summer schedule which is acceptable to supporters of the men's and women's game, players and coaching staff, broadcasters and sponsors alike.

The new board will have six new faces, following the death of Brenda Trenowden, Jim Wood serving his maximum term, and Valerie Amos, Martin Darlow, Barry O'Brien and Lucy Pearson not seeking re-election.

Penny Avis and Baroness Zahida Manzoor, will join as independent non-executive directors, and Jennifer Owen Adams and Gareth Williams are to be confirmed as cricket non-executive directors.

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