At a press conference held in Barbados on Monday morning, (22nd October), WICB President, Dr. Julian Hunte and Director of the Board from Barbados, Joel Garner, used the opportunity of the media briefing to discuss various matters and issues that are confronting the sport and its governing body; but Hunte admitted that the main reason for the meeting was to introduce the new CEO, Mr. Michael Muirhead, a native of Jamaica.
Hunte revealed that Mr. Muirhead had emerged after a rigorous process of recruitment which the WICB undertook.
“As you are also aware this became necessary following the decision of the departed CEO Dr. Ernest Hilaire deciding not to seek a renewal of his contract after serving West Indies Cricket for three years,” said the president.
The president again offered words of commendation to the former CEO, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, who Muirhead is replacing.
“I wish to place, once again on public record, the profuse thanks of the Board of Directors to Dr. Hilaire for his fearless and dedicated services to West Indies Cricket at one of, if not the most challenging time in our regional sport. His was an unenviable task of implementing change in the manner in which the WICB operated. Whilst we at the Board were always cognizant that change is not a process which is always embraced with fondness or welcomed, it was necessary and we took the policy decisions and charged Dr. Hilaire to execute.”
The president said that West Indies cricket and the WICB have gone through the most challenging times in the process of change but the task is yet complete.
Mr. Muirhead enters West Indies Cricket to lead the management against the background of the structures of West Indies cricket having been implemented and strengthened. His mandate is to continue to build on these foundational strengths to take West Indies Cricket forward, explained Hunte.
However, Dr. Hunte was confident that the appointment of Mr. Muirhead will ensure that West Indies cricket remains resolutely on the path to structured development and progress and that he is most capable of continuing the process of overseeing the implementation of the WICB Strategic Plan 2011-2016.
Michael brings a wealth of experience in a range of sectors in Jamaica, is an accomplished, astute and measured executive on whom the Board will rely to execute its programmes and policies and further build capacity at the WICB Secretariat, said Hunte in his remarks to the media.
“We have been most impressed with his résumé́́, clarity of thought, broad understanding of the sport, communication skills and overall skills set, and specifically, his capacity for judicious management.”
The president said that now we are exiting the ‘season of fundamental change’ in West Indies cricket and approaching the road to sustained stability and steady progress, the Board believes that Michael is the ideal candidate to lead its administrative arm.
“Michael can be assured of the support of myself as President and the Board of Directors. We are confident that his tenure will be a successful one as we continue the critical work of rebuilding West Indies Cricket to be a sustained world cricketing force in the future, stated the WICB boss.
The WICB explained that the Barbados press briefing was simply the first in a series that will eventually include other territories that are members of the regional organizations though no mention was made at the time of the specific countries to be visited and the timeline.