Worcestershire CCC are pleased to announce the appointment of Fanos Hira as their new Chairman.
Mr Hira, a lifelong Worcestershire supporter, succeeds Stephen Taylor who has expressed his desire to stand down after four years in the role. Mr Taylor will remain on the Board until the AGM next year to assist with the transition.
Mr Taylor said “I am delighted to be handing over today as I always intended to, made even better after our monumental and historic win on Saturday. The whole club is quite rightly delighted and the future is very strong. I wish Fanos every success, and I thank my fellow Board members for their support over the years.”
Mr Hira, a member of the Worcestershire CCC Board since January 2016, became the club’s Audit Group Chairman shortly afterwards.
The former pupil of the King’s School, Worcester, takes over the role following his recommendation by the Worcestershire CCC nominations committee*.
Mr Hira is delighted to be filling such a key role: “To be given the opportunity to be Chairman of this prestigious club is a tremendous honour.”
He paid tribute to the work of former Chairman Mr Taylor.
Mr Hira said: “In the last few years, the club has been through some significant change.”
“In my view there is a very strong foundation from which to build on, and that’s testament to the impressive efforts Steve and his Board at Worcestershire have put in.”
“I will work very closely with the Board to make sure the club thrives in the years ahead, as we face the impending changes in the game and the challenges they present.”
“We remain focussed on improving everything we do for our members – finances, governance, transparency – so that we can invest more in cricket, which is our primary purpose.”
Mr Hira, 50, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having trained with Coopers & Lybrand (now Price Waterhouse).
He then held senior positions at two global investment banks. At Morgan Stanley he headed up European Wireless Research, and as a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns (now JP Morgan) he led the European Telecom Equity Research team.
In July 2007, he returned to Worcestershire with his wife and three sons, and now manages his own private investments.
Mr Hira is a trustee of the King’s School Development Trust, where he chairs the Investment Committee. He has also been Treasurer at Droitwich Rugby Football Club for the past five years. He is a keen sportsman who plays touch rugby, recently achieving England squad level.
*The Nominations Committee was chaired by Club Vice Chairman Tim Curtis, and comprised of the following people: Andrew Manning-Cox as a non-executive Board Member appointed by the Board; David Broughall as an Honorary Life Vice-President appointed by the Board; Andrew Jenkins as a Member appointed by Worcestershire County Cricket Supporters Association; and Matt Rawnsley as Chief Executive.
