Sussex's New CEO: The ECB Insider Taking Over After a Turbulent Year

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-11-04

Sussex County Cricket Club has named Beth Barrett-Wild as its new chief executive. She arrives after more than a decade at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), where she most recently served as tournament director for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Barrett-Wild will start at Hove on January 1, replacing acting chief executive Alex Paterson. It's a homecoming of sorts for someone who knows the county game inside out. ### From the MCC to the ECB: A Career Built on Cricket Barrett-Wild began her career at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) before moving to the ECB in 2013 as media manager for England Women. She later became head of the Women's Hundred and then director of the women's professional game. In that role, she helped oversee the three-tier county structure the board introduced in 2025. She also played county cricket for Essex, so she understands the rhythms of the domestic game from the inside. "I picked up a bat as a young girl at my village club," she said, "and the sense of family and community in cricket has stayed with me ever since." Leading the oldest professional cricket club in the world, she added, was something her eight-year-old self could only have imagined. ### A Club That's Been Through the Wringer The appointment follows a turbulent period at Sussex. The ECB placed the club in special measures at the start of the year after financial difficulties emerged, and the club later reported a loss of £1.3 million ($1.65 million). Spending restrictions led several players to leave, including club captain John Simpson and England prospect Henry Crocombe. Paul Farbrace also left his post as head coach. He first agreed to stay on in a part-time role as director of cricket and then departed for Lancashire last month. Barrett-Wild acknowledged the challenges off the field but pointed to the work done over the past 10 months to put Sussex on a steadier footing. "A great deal of work has gone into stabilising the club," she said. "I look forward to working with chair Ed Warner, the board, the executive team, players, members, and fans to build on that progress." ### The Chair's Verdict: A Competitive Process Ed Warner, Sussex's chair, said he was delighted to see someone of Barrett-Wild's experience join the club. He credited her with lifting women's cricket to a new level and said he expects to work closely with her on the club's future. Warner added that the quality of applicants for the role was very high, making the process highly competitive. Barrett-Wild's talent and vibrancy, he said, set her apart as the strongest candidate to lead Sussex into its next chapter. > "Beth's energy and vision stood out in a very strong field. She's exactly the right person to take us forward." – Ed Warner, Sussex Chair ### On the Field: A Season of Resilience Despite the off-field turmoil, Sussex handled the disruption better than many expected. The club began the season with a 12-point deduction as part of the sanctions linked to its financial situation. It still finished third in the Division One table of the County Championship. Barrett-Wild now takes charge of a club that has stabilised its finances but lost several senior figures from its playing and coaching staff. Her first months in the role will centre on working with the board and the executive team as Sussex plan for the next season. ### What's Next for Sussex? The immediate priorities are clear: rebuild the coaching and playing staff, continue the financial recovery, and reconnect with members and fans. Barrett-Wild's background in both media and professional game management should help on all fronts. She knows the ECB's structures well, which can only help when it comes to navigating regulations and funding. For Sussex supporters, the hope is that this appointment marks the start of a steadier, more successful era. For Barrett-Wild, it's a chance to lead the oldest professional cricket club in the world – and to prove that a career spent behind the scenes can translate into front-line leadership. One thing's for sure: she won't be short of challenges. But if her track record is anything to go by, she's ready for them.