The board of Cricket Australia confirms the appointment of Nick Hockley to the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Hockley has served with distinction as CA's Interim CEO since June 2020, overseeing the successful delivery of last season's international and domestic competitions in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hockley has spent almost a decade in cricket with highly successful stints as the CEO of the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Local Organising Committee, Head of Commercial Projects at CA and as General Manager, Commercial and Marketing, at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Prior to cricket, Hockley was Head of Commercial Negotiations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games prior to which he held senior corporate finance roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney and London, where he also qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
Hockley said he was honoured to be announced as CA's new CEO.
"As Australia's national sport, cricket is at the heart of our national and cultural identity. I am under no illusion about the importance of cricket to the lives of so many Australians, nor the magnitude and responsibility of this role. Leading Cricket Australia is the greatest privilege of my working life and I am committed to doing all I can to making a positive contribution to the game and the community," Hockley said.
"Over the past 12 months, I have learnt first-hand about the breadth, scale and importance of the role. My approach has been and will continue to be to bring people across the game together, as I believe this is fundamental to achieving our full potential.
"It has been extremely rewarding to be part of CA, State and Territory Associations and the Australian Cricketers' Association working together like never before over the past 12 months, to overcome the challenges presented by Covid-19 and deliver a summer for the ages. I look forward to building on this momentum and playing my role in deepening those relationships further, as well as playing a leading role in growing the game internationally alongside fellow ICC members.
"From community cricket to the international arena, Australian Cricket is in excellent shape, due to the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers, coaches, players, match officials and employees across the country, all of whom are an inspiration to me.
"I am extremely grateful for the support and trust of our partners and the millions of fans in Australia and around the world who cheer on our teams. We are committed to being an organisation which you can be proud of and a sport where everyone belongs.
"I would also like to thank the CA board for the faith they have placed in me to continue to lead CA at this important and exciting time for the sport. The change and complexity brought about by Covid-19 has created lots of challenges, but also plenty of opportunities. By working together with our partners across the game, I feel confident and optimistic about cricket's ability to rise to the challenges of the modern world and thrive."
Earl Eddings, CA Chair, congratulated Hockley on his appointment.
"Nick's contribution to Australian Cricket has been immense and, on behalf of the board, I am most pleased to confirm his appointment as CEO, which was unanimously endorsed by the board," Eddings said.
"From delivering the historic T20 Women's World Cup to ensuring a safe and successful 2020-21 season, Nick has already proven himself to be in the very top echelon of sports administrators both in Australia and around the world.
"Nick was named Interim CEO at an incredibly challenging period for Australian sport, and society in general, and there were many instances where the once-in-a-generation obstacles in his path must have seemed overwhelming. But through his leadership, resolve, worth ethic and vision for the game, Australian Cricket emerged stronger than ever. For that, Nick deserves enormous credit.
"In addition to his excellent record of strategy and delivery, Nick has been pivotal in galvanising Australian Cricket and strengthening relationships with our partners. I have no doubt those bonds will deepen further under his stewardship, which will serve to grow the game at all levels.
"Only 14 people have served as CEO or secretary of Australia's national cricket body, and just 12 since the then-Australian Board of Control for International Cricket was formally established 116 years ago. I firmly believe Nick will be regarded among the very best of them and carry on their legacy of ensuring cricket is a sport for all Australians.
"The role of CEO of CA is one of the most highly regarded in sport and, accordingly, we were fortunate to have many outstanding candidates apply for the post. The board and I thank every one of them and wish them well in their future endeavours."
