Sussex appoint Beth Barrett-Wild as first female chief executive

LONDON | 04-11-2026 : Sussex have appointed Beth Barrett-Wild as the first female chief executive in the county’s history, according to BBC Sport. She will begin work on 1 January 2027, moving to Hove after 13 years at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The appointment, reported by BBC Sport and ESPNcricinfo on 3 November, comes alongside proposals to add five non-executive directors to the Sussex board. Former England and Sussex bowler Holly Colvin is among the nominees, whose appointments remain subject to ratification at the club’s annual general meeting next March.

Move follows senior ECB roles

Barrett-Wild’s ECB career has included responsibility for the women’s professional game and major competitions. BBC Sport reported that she has served as director of the women’s professional game, head of The Hundred’s women’s competition and tournament director of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

ESPNcricinfo also reported her appointment, highlighting her lengthy experience in senior leadership positions at the ECB before the move to Sussex. Her January start will follow a period at the governing body spanning more than a decade.

Sussex chair Ed Warner welcomed the appointment, according to BBC Sport. He credited Barrett-Wild’s achievements with substantially advancing women’s cricket and expressed enthusiasm about working with her on the county’s future.

The chief executive appointment is confirmed, while the proposed board changes have a separate approval process. BBC Sport reported that all five nominated non-executive directors would serve three-year terms once their positions were ratified at the March meeting.

Colvin proposed for board return

Colvin, 37, would bring experience as both a Sussex player and an England international. According to BBC Sport, she represented the county from 2005 to 2015 and won two women’s County Championships during that period.

Her England career included striking the winning run in the 2009 World Cup final. She is now proposed for a board position alongside Alison Bruce, another former Sussex Women’s player, giving two of the five nominees a playing connection to the county’s women’s side.

The other proposed directors are Paul Farris, an entrepreneur and cricket coach; Mark Jeffries, a business owner and former vice-captain of Sussex Young Cricketers; and Callum May, a BBC journalist and Sussex member, BBC Sport reported.

January start, March approval process

The reported timetable places Barrett-Wild’s arrival before the annual general meeting at which the board nominations will be considered. She is due to take up the chief executive role at the start of 2027, while the five proposed directors await the subsequent ratification process.

The distinction means Colvin and the other nominees are not yet confirmed board members. For Sussex, the confirmed leadership change is Barrett-Wild’s appointment, with BBC Sport identifying her arrival as a first for women in the county’s chief executive position.

Sources: BBC Sport; ESPNcricinfo.