Glamorgan County Cricket Club has today announced that after 10 years as Chief Executive, Hugh Morris MBE will step down from the position at the end of this year.
The Club’s former opening batter and captain returned to the Welsh county from his role as Managing Director, England Cricket, as Chief Executive and Director of Cricket in January 2014. Prior to his time at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Morris played 17 seasons for Glamorgan making his county debut in 1981 at the age of 17 whilst still at Blundells School and went on to become Glamorgan's youngest captain at the age of 22. He stood down from the captaincy at the end of the 1989 season in order to concentrate on his batting which reaped its rewards in 1990 as he hit a club record 10 centuries and 2,276 runs.
Morris returned to the captaincy in 1993 and led Glamorgan to the Sunday League title, the Club's first title in 24 years. He played 3 Tests for England and was part of the Glamorgan side that won the County Championship in 1997, equalling Alan Jones' club record of 52 first-class centuries in the deciding fixture against Somerset that year.
Following the Championship success, he retired from playing to take up the post of Technical Director of ECB and for a time stood in as acting Chief Executive of ECB before being promoted to Deputy Chief Executive, and then, the first Managing Director of England Cricket. A day after England claimed the 2013 Ashes 3-0, he stepped down from his ECB role to take over as CEO and Director of Cricket at Glamorgan.
Morris was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Her Majesty’s 2022 Birthday Honours for services to cricket and charity.
Regarding the announcement, Morris said: “I have been extremely fortunate to have spent my 42-year career in the sport that I have loved from being a young boy. During that time, I have played with and against some outstanding cricketers and worked alongside some hugely talented administrators. I will take with me some wonderful memories and friendships which I have enjoyed with people involved in the family of cricket around the world.
"There is no substitute for playing, but I look back fondly on my time as Managing Director of England Cricket, particularly working with Andrew Strauss, Andy Flower and Alistair Cook when we won three Ashes Series back-to-back for the first time in 60 years and won our first ICC global tournament in 2010 when we were victorious in the World T20 in Barbados.
"Glamorgan has always held a special place in my heart and it was a great thrill for me to rejoin the club as Chief Executive in January 2014 after 17 thoroughly enjoyable years at the England and Wales Cricket Board. I am proud of our achievements over the past ten years in stabilising our financial position, transforming our governance and making the game more accessible and diverse through our award-winning community programme.
"Winning the Royal London Cup in 2021, our first domestic trophy in 16 years, was very satisfying and after recently assuming responsibility for the talent pathways for boys and girls in Wales, we have already seen promising signs of real talent emerging.
"Many people will know that I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2022, and the time is right for me to spend more time with my family, enjoying other pastimes, and focusing on my ongoing treatment. I would particularly like to thank my family and friends for their enormous support through these challenging times and also the Board, members, commercial partners, and colleagues at Glamorgan for their understanding and support over the past two years.”
Glamorgan County Cricket Club Chair, Mark Rhydderch-Roberts added: "Hugh has been an outstanding Chief Executive over the last decade, and has created a solid and sustainable platform for the further development of the Club and our magnificent International stadium at Sophia Gardens, as well as for cricket throughout Wales. His inspirational leadership, particularly during the financial reorganisation of the Club in 2016, has been critically important to me on a personal level, as well as to the Club.
"Further success in domestic competitions, together with the successful staging of major international cricket at Sophia Gardens, have been key strategic goals during his tenure. We would also like to thank him for his work in successfully leading the Club through the challenges of the Pandemic.
"We will miss him enormously, but he leaves an indelible, unique and enduring legacy from his time as Chief Executive, in addition to his outstanding achievements as both a Glamorgan and England player.
"Deputy Chief Executive Dan Cherry will assume the role of Interim Chief Executive following Hugh standing down in December, and we are delighted that Hugh will continue to be involved with the Club in identifying new talent to join the Glamorgan Playing Pathway."
Richard Thompson, ECB Chair commented: “Hugh has served cricket in England and Wales both on and off the field, with extraordinary distinction. Few if any have given what Hugh has, both in terms of impact as well as commitment.
"To say he has made a difference would not be enough. I know that Hugh has been focused on re-establishing cricket as the national summer sport in Wales and ‘making Wales proud’ of cricket’s achievements on and off the field.
"Over many decades he has made both Wales and England very proud and given more than anyone could ever ask. He has been exceptional in every sense.”