Sussex's New CEO: The ECB Veteran Tasked With a Cricket Revival

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-11-04

Sussex have named Beth Barrett-Wild as their new chief executive, and it's a move that's got people talking. She joins the county after more than a decade at the England and Wales Cricket Board, where she most recently served as tournament director of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Barrett-Wild will start at Hove on January 1, replacing acting chief executive Alex Paterson. ### From the MCC to the ECB: A Cricket Journey Barrett-Wild's career began at the MCC before she moved 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. The incoming CEO also played county cricket for Essex. She said she was proud to join a club with a rich history and a future full of opportunity. She recalled picking up a bat as a young girl at her village club and said the sense of family and community in cricket has stayed with her since. Leading the oldest professional cricket club in the world, she said, was something her eight-year-old self could only have imagined. ### A Club on the Mend After a Turbulent Year The appointment follows a difficult 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 ($1.6 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 said a great deal of work over the past 10 months had put Sussex on a steadier footing. She said she looks forward to working with chair Ed Warner, the board, the executive team, players, members and fans to build on that progress. ### Chairman Ed Warner Backs the Appointment Warner 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. The chair added that the quality of applicants for the role was very high and made 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 are exactly what we need to take this club forward." – Ed Warner, Sussex Chair ### On-Field Resilience: Third in the County Championship 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 in the role will centre on working with the board and the executive team as Sussex plan for the next season. ### What This Means for Sussex's Future With Barrett-Wild at the helm, Sussex hope to build on their recent progress. Her experience in women's cricket and her track record of delivering major tournaments could help the club grow its commercial and community reach. Fans will be watching closely to see how she navigates the challenges ahead and whether she can restore Sussex to its former glory. For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog!