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GCCC Update - Club Chair John Hollingdale to step down in April

3 February 2021

John Hollingdale, Club Chair, has announced to the Executive Board that he will be stepping down from his role as Chair of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club at the 2021 AGM (27 April).  John has been on the Board of the Club since 2016, first as our Honorary Treasurer and for the last two years as Chair. 

Gloucestershire Cricket Chief Executive Will Brown said: “During that time John has immersed himself in all areas of the Club and has been an amazing friend and leader to all of us.  His savvy business acumen, endless contact list and good humour have taken us through some of the most diverse and challenging times the Club will ever see and he has also presided over a return to Division 1 cricket and a long awaited trip to T20 Finals Day.

His leadership through the current Coronavirus pandemic has been exceptional and along with all of the Executive Board has continued to give much more than a voluntary position should require.”

John Hollingdale commented:

“I became 70 a few weeks ago and have realised it is the right time to pass the baton on.  I became Chair two years ago having served as Treasurer for the previous three years.  I have really enjoyed my time serving the cricket club in these roles over the last five years.  I am stepping down as I feel the time is right for a younger Chairperson to take over.  The post Covid world will bring many challenges to all walks of life and not least cricket. Our Club needs a Chairperson who can lead it for a number of years through this difficult but fascinating period of time.

When I took on the role of Chair, the Board had expanded its numbers, skill base and diversity.  I saw my role as bringing this team together and creating a good team spirit both within the Board and the wider Club.  I believe we are making progress in achieving this. There is an excellent relationship between the GCCC Board and Will Brown, the Chief Executive, and his Executive Team.  We have created a strong leadership team of Chair, Deputy Chair and Chief Executive which has led the Club through the unique challenges brought by the Covid pandemic.  The Board Members who have worked with me on the Board are all making valuable and co-ordinated contributions to the Club through the specialist advisory groups we have set up.  I am very confident that this structure can continue under the new Chairperson whom I wish every success too.”

Following John’s announcement, and following the Executive Board meeting on 28 January, we are delighted to say that David Jones was elected to the role of Chair-Elect before becoming Chair officially at the end of the AGM.  David, our Deputy Chair since 2019, has been a member of the Executive Board for the past 7 years during which he too has surrounded himself with all things “Gloucestershire.”  David has played a hugely important role in supporting John, acting as mentor to many of the Club’s Executive and increasingly being involved with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).  After a board level career spanning nearly 38 years at the John Lewis Partnership, David is now an Independent Non-Executive Director of the British Horse Racing Authority, a Trustee of the Zoological Society of London and is also a Director of the Watercress Line, a heritage railway in Hampshire.   It is more important than ever during these extraordinary times that we maintain strong leadership and governance allowing us to re-build and grow into the future and David is perfectly placed to do this. 

David commented on his appointment:

“I am very honoured to be following in John Hollingdale’s footsteps as Chair of the Club.  John has been instrumental in giving us a strong lead during such a difficult period in the Club’s history.

These are challenging times but nevertheless there is so much potential for our Club.  We need to work hard towards delivering the resumption of cricket and then building on the firm foundations which underpin the “Gloucestershire family.”  I am hugely excited about the opportunity and am convinced that in delivering our ambitions, the Club can be a really important force for good within the community.”

Will Brown added: “All at the Club wish David all the best in his new role and thank John for all he has done for Gloucestershire Cricket.”

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