Cricket Scotland has appointed Gus Mackay as its new Chief Executive after a world-wide search supported by specialist consultants. Gus will take up his new role on 21 October 2019 and brings considerable experience in sports management to the organisation.
For the last 17 years Gus has held senior roles in sports businesses and governing bodies, mainly in cricket but also in other sports. Before that he played cricket professionally in Zimbabwe and in the UK, winning 3 ODI caps for Zimbabwe in 2001 against Australia and New Zealand.
Gus was born and brought up in Zimbabwe but, as his name suggests, has strong Scottish roots with his grandparents hailing from Wick and Duns.
Gus said “This is an exciting time for the game in Scotland and I am delighted to have been appointed Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland. I have been impressed with the clear vision, strategy and more importantly, commitment of the Board to achieve Full Member Status of the International Cricket Council. This will help us achieve our vision to make cricket mainstream in Scotland and thereby ensure the long term sustainability of the game here.
“Clearly cricket in Scotland is progressing in the right direction for both the men’s and women’s game, as demonstrated by the ICC rankings, while Scotland is regarded as one of the top Associate Countries.
“I look forward to working with all the stakeholders involved in the game from colleagues, clubs, schools, regional associations, supporters, volunteers and commercial partners to drive a bottom up approach to achieving our goals in the new strategy.
“These are exciting times for everyone involved in our great game in Scotland and I really look forward to getting started!”
Tony Brian, Chair of Cricket Scotland said “It is of great benefit for cricket that we have attracted someone of Gus’s calibre and experience to join us as our new Chief Executive. He has wide experience of leading all aspects of sports from growing participation numbers and supporting clubs to running professional teams at a high level.
“We are currently finalising an ambitious strategy which aims to make cricket one of the mainstream sports in Scotland over the next ten years, with a wide increase in participation and which sees us becoming a Full Member of the International Cricket Council within the next five. Gus’ proven skills as a leader of sports bodies and his wide network of contacts throughout the cricketing world make him the ideal person to lead cricket in Scotland through the next, and exciting, phase of our development.”
Note for Editors
Gus Mackay has been:
Managing Director of Worcester Warriors (2017/19); Managing Director of CriqHQ – Europe (2015/17); Chief Executive of London Broncos (2011/14); Managing Director, Cricket of Surrey County Cricket Club (2008/10); Chief Executive of Sussex County Cricket Club (2006/8); Operations Director of Leicestershire County Cricket Club (2003/6); and General Manager of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (2002/3). Before that he had various sales and management roles in the finance industry alongside his professional cricketing career
