Kevin Roberts named as new CEO of Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia have appointed Kevin Roberts as their next Chief Executive Officer following an intense search to fill the top spot. Roberts, a former first class cricketer for New South Wales, will replace the outgoing James Sutherland, who tended his resignation in June. Roberts had been promoted to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer earlier this year, thus making him Sutherland’s likely successor.Roberts was CA’s lead negotiator during the pay dispute in 2017 involving the players and the board. The 46-year-old has played 23 first-class matches and 18 domestic one-dayers for NSW.

Post his playing career, Roberts became the CEO of 2XU, an Australian-based multinational sports apparel company before becoming Adidas’s managing director in Australia and eventually, their Global Senior Vice President. He then joined the CA board in 2012 and in 2015, assumed an executive role with responsibilities for strategy, people & culture, technology, female engagement and member services, apart from the One Team transformation program.

“It is a great privilege and responsibility to lead and serve the cricket community as CEO of Cricket Australia,” Roberts said following his appointment. “I thank the Board for this opportunity and look forward to commencing in the role. One of the many things I love about cricket as our national sport is its ability to bring people together and inspire us, regardless of our age, gender or cultural background.”