After nearly 19 years in charge of Irish cricket’s national governing body, Cricket Ireland has stated that CEO Warren Deutrom will leave his position at the end of August.
Ireland has gained prominence in world cricket under his leadership, and in 2017 it was granted Full Member/Test membership of the International Cricket Council, an elite distinction that is held by only 12 of the 108 countries that play cricket.
Throughout his nearly three decades in cricket administration, Warren has held positions as head of events for the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC). He is the chair of the European T20 Premier League, a member of the Olympic Council of Ireland Disciplinary Panel and the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, a former Board Director of the European Cricket Council and the Federation of Irish Sport, and a member of the ICC Chief Executives Committee and ICC Women’s Cricket Committee.
“It’s hard to explain my feelings since making this decision – the role of Cricket Ireland CEO has covered more than a third of my life and two-thirds of my professional career,” Warren Deutrom stated following yesterday’s Board Meeting, where his resignation was formally advised. Instead of feeling like a job, it has seemed more like a calling and a genuine labour of love.
The most important accomplishment I can look back on with pride is obtaining ICC Full Membership and Test status; in fact, if obtaining this status was the focus of my first ten years in my position, the next ten years have been devoted to attempting to uphold that honour. The time is right for me to pass the torch because I am more confident than ever that the foundations are in place to realise that new vision, especially with new ICC funding, permanent infrastructure planned, a World Cup to co-host, a central contracts system for both men and women, and the European T20 Premier League on the horizon.
“The best memories I’ll carry with me are of our Irish cricket family – the good people, the kind people, the mentors, the taskmasters, the amazing colleagues, and the innumerable friends I am privileged to have made along the way. The absolute highlights of the role are too many to list. In the upcoming weeks, I hope to personally thank as many people as possible.
Cricket Ireland Chair Brian MacNeice stated: “A CEO’s performance is determined by whether they departed the company in a better state than when they started. Warren has undoubtedly succeeded in doing so. It’s clear that Warren has made cricket, and more especially Irish cricket, his passion rather than merely his profession. He has spearheaded some of the biggest successes in our sport’s history, including the ICC’s Full Membership. He took over a fledgling company, guided it through an unheard-of expansion phase, oversaw the company through setbacks like the financial crisis and COVID, and never lost sight of the wider picture.
“A position like this always requires a remarkable degree of talent, commitment, zeal, and selflessness—qualities Warren possesses in spades. Along with a plethora of accomplishments, he leaves office with a number of significant initiatives in the works, like the stadium and co-hosting the T20 World Cup, which bode well for Irish cricket going forward. I wish Warren and his family the best of luck in the future and express my gratitude to him on behalf of Cricket Ireland’s Board and employees for his exceptional leadership and dedication to the CEO position.
India
