Sussex's New CEO: The ECB Insider Tasked With Rebuilding a Crisis Club

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Sussex appoint Beth Barrett-Wild as chief executive after a decade at the ECB. She inherits a club recovering from financial turmoil but with a rich history and loyal fanbase.

Sussex have named Beth Barrett-Wild as their new chief executive, and it's a move that signals serious intent. She arrives after more than a decade at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), most recently as tournament director for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Barrett-Wild starts at Hove on January 1, taking over from acting chief executive Alex Paterson. ### From the MCC to the ECB: A Cricket Career Built on Change Barrett-Wild's journey began at the MCC before she joined 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 knows the county game from the inside. "Leading the oldest professional cricket club in the world is something my eight-year-old self could only have imagined," she said, recalling picking up a bat at her village club. That sense of family and community in cricket has stayed with her ever since. ### A Club on the Mend After a Turbulent Year The appointment comes after a difficult period for Sussex. The ECB placed the club in special measures at the start of the year following financial difficulties, and the club later reported a loss of £1.3 million (about $1.6 million). Spending restrictions led to the departures of club captain John Simpson and England prospect Henry Crocombe. Head coach Paul Farbrace also left, first agreeing to stay on part-time as director of cricket before joining Lancashire last month. Barrett-Wild acknowledges the challenges but points to the progress made over the past 10 months. "A great deal of work has put Sussex on a steadier footing," she said. She's looking forward to working with chair Ed Warner, the board, the executive team, players, members and fans to build on that progress. ### Why Ed Warner Believes She's the Right Leader Warner is delighted with the appointment. He credited Barrett-Wild with lifting women's cricket to a new level and expects to work closely with her on the club's future. He added that the quality of applicants 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. ### On-Field Resilience Despite Off-Field Chaos On the field, 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 will centre on working with the board and executive team as Sussex plan for next season. ### The Road Ahead With a strong cricket pedigree and a clear vision, Barrett-Wild is well-placed to steer Sussex through its next chapter. Fans will be watching closely to see how she shapes the club's future.

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