Cricket Wales has announced that Leshia Hawkins has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer – she will start the role in February 2020.
Leshia joins Cricket Wales from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), where her current role is Regional Head of Participation and Growth for the London area. This involves working with Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex First Class Counties and County Boards, on their responses to the new ECB strategy ‘Inspiring Generations’.
In recent years Leshia has facilitated significant joint partnership working across the London counties, including the establishment of the London Cricket Trust, the re-structure of the Women’s Hardball Leagues, and increased investment for youth cricket development.
Leshia is also a Non-Executive Director of England Athletics, where she brings Commercial and Marketing experience to the Boardroom and is also the appointed Board Diversity champion.
Prior to her current role, Leshia was the ECB’s Business Development Manager, during which time her achievements included securing sponsorship across the game, from grassroots to Team England, from the likes of New Balance, Kia Motors UK, Harrogate Spring Water & Jewson.
Leshia, a former captain of Durham University Women’s cricket team, is looking forward to leading Cricket Wales on the next phase of its development: ‘I am very grateful to the Cricket Wales Board for offering me this role and am extremely proud to be taking on this challenge.
I can’t wait to get to work with all the passionate people involved in our sport in Wales, especially at such an exciting time for cricket, capitalising on the Men’s World Cup victory this summer, the advent of the new men’s & women’s Hundred competition and cricket’s new strategy.
My focus will be to ensure we nurture our core playing market, but also to make our game as accessible and welcoming as possible for all groups.’
Cricket Wales Chair, Rod Jones, added: ‘We are delighted to be welcoming Leshia as our new CEO and look forward to her working with the Board on our new joint strategy with Glamorgan Cricket.
Leshia has a real passion for cricket and brings outstanding sports development, business acumen and relationship management experience to the role.’