Following Middlesex Cricket's statement of two weeks ago regarding the recruitment of a permanent replacement for Chair, Mike O'Farrell, who will step down from the role at the forthcoming AGM, the Club today issues the following statement regarding the appointment of an Interim Chair.
The Club's intention, as stated, would only be to appoint an Interim Chair at the AGM should a permanent successor to O'Farrell not have been secured by that time. Having considered the matter further and taken external expertise advice, the Board believe it unlikely a suitable successor to Mike will be found ahead of the April AGM.
Given this, and given that there are a number of hugely important issues on the agenda for the game which will require significant involvement from each of the first-class county Chairs in the coming weeks and months, including the ongoing ECB High Performance Review and the forthcoming release of the Independent Commission into Equity in Cricket, the Club has taken the decision to appoint an Interim Chair immediately, rather than wait until the AGM, to ensure that there is an appropriate and smooth handover from O’Farrell to an Interim Chair, prior to the appointment of a permanent Chair.
Today, Middlesex Cricket can therefore confirm that Angus Fraser has accepted the invitation of the Club's Board to step into the Interim Chair's role with immediate effect, and he will work closely with O'Farrell, who will remain the Club’s Chair until the AGM, with Fraser shadowing the Chair and deputising for him where appropriate until he stands down at the Club’s AGM on 4th April
On Angus Fraser taking the Interim Chair's role, Middlesex Chair Mike O’Farrell commented:
“I am delighted that Angus has agreed to step into the Interim Chair’s role in the short term, to help the Club in this transitional period, and I would like to thank him for accepting the Board’s invitation.
“I have been enormously proud to be the Chair of this fine Club and I will step down with a heavy heart in April, although the time is right for me to do so.
“In Angus we have a man who cares passionately about Middlesex. The Club is in his blood, and I can think of no better man to work alongside in the last few weeks of my tenure here as Chair. I am looking forward to working closely with him over the next few weeks to ensure that when I step down at the AGM, Angus can continue in the role until a permanent Chair is appointed and then provide a comprehensive handover at that point.
Middlesex’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Cornish, also commented:
"As a Board we have spoken at length about how best to manage Mike's departure from the role as Chair ensuring that there is no adverse effect on the Club over this time. Mike has been an incredible Chair and will be a tough act for anyone to follow.
"Mike's departure comes at a critical time for the game at large, and we need to do all we can to ensure that we as a Club are able to continue to operate without any interruptions - with Angus stepping into the Interim Chair's role, working alongside Mike in this important period of transition, shadowing him over the next couple of months, we can ensure that we are in a strong position when Mike steps down.
"Upon completion of the recruitment process, when the Club has found a permanent successor to Mike, Angus will then be very well placed to pass on the baton of Chair.
"We are fortunate to have a man of Angus’s standing within our organisation, with the knowledge, passion and commitment he has for all things Middlesex Cricket. He is exactly what we need at this time, and on behalf of the Club's Board, I would like to thank him for agreeing to step into this interim role.
"We will be sure to update members and supporters on the Chair's recruitment process as soon as there are any developments that we can share."
On taking on the Interim Chair’s role, Angus Fraser himself commented:
“I would like to thank the Club for affording me the honour of holding the position of Interim Chair. I am extremely proud to take on the role and to help Middlesex Cricket in any way I can.
“Mike is an exceptional man and Middlesex Cricket has been fortunate to have him as Chair. He will take some replacing. Middlesex Cricket needs to find the right person to Chair the club and it makes absolute sense to take the time required to locate and secure the permanent replacement. I look forward to working with Mike before he stands down at the AGM and to representing the Club in this role until a permanent replacement is secured.”
