Sussex's New CEO: The ECB Insider Tasked With Turning Things Around

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-11-04

Sussex have appointed Beth Barrett-Wild as their new chief executive, and it's a move that's raising eyebrows—in a good way. She arrives at Hove on January 1, taking over from acting CEO Alex Paterson, after more than a decade at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Her last role there? Tournament director for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Not exactly a small job. ### From ECB Insider to County Leader Barrett-Wild's CV is seriously impressive. She started out at the MCC before joining the ECB in 2013 as media manager for England Women. From there, she climbed the ranks: head of the Women's Hundred, then director of the women's professional game. In that role, she helped shape the three-tier county structure the board introduced in 2025. Oh, and she played county cricket for Essex, so she knows the game from the inside out. "Leading the oldest professional cricket club in the world is something my eight-year-old self could only have imagined," she said. That sense of family and community she felt as a young girl at her village club? It's stayed with her. And now she's bringing that passion to Sussex. ### A Club in Need of Stability Let's not sugarcoat it: Sussex have had a rough year. The ECB placed them in special measures at the start of the year after financial difficulties emerged. The club later reported a loss of £1.3 million (about $1.65 million). Spending restrictions led to several players leaving, including club captain John Simpson and England prospect Henry Crocombe. Head coach Paul Farbrace also departed—first agreeing to stay on part-time as director of cricket, then leaving for Lancashire last month. Barrett-Wild isn't shying away from the challenge. She acknowledged the off-field issues but pointed to the hard work of the past 10 months that has put Sussex on a steadier footing. "I look forward to working with chair Ed Warner, the board, the executive team, players, members, and fans to build on that progress," she said. ### Chair Ed Warner Backs the Appointment Warner is clearly thrilled. He said he was "delighted" to welcome someone of Barrett-Wild's experience and credited her with lifting women's cricket to a new level. He also revealed the applicant pool was highly competitive, but Barrett-Wild's talent and vibrancy set her apart as the strongest candidate to lead Sussex into its next chapter. > "Beth's talent and vibrancy set her apart as the strongest candidate to lead Sussex into its next chapter." – Ed Warner, Sussex Chair ### On-Field Resilience Despite the chaos off the field, Sussex handled the disruption better than many expected. They began the season with a 12-point deduction as part of the sanctions linked to their financial situation. Yet they still finished third in Division One of the County Championship. That's a testament to the players and staff who held things together. Now Barrett-Wild 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. If her track record is anything to go by, she's exactly the kind of leader Sussex need. For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog!