About The Team

Chairman

Chair MCCA 2016 to 2019 and Chair NCCA Ltd. since the formation of the Company in August 2019. Current President of Staffordshire CCC. Represented England Schools Under 15 and Under 19 sides, England Amateur XI, MCC, MCCA and UAU. Captain of Staffordshire CCC 1985 to 1995 and, subsequently, Secretary and Chair of the Club. General Manager of the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League since 2001 and a member of the ECB Development Pathway sub-group. 

Finance Director

Karen joined the NCCA Board in February 2023 as Finance Director. After a successful 25-year career in the dairy industry in several finance, pension, and board level/governance roles, she decided it was time for a change and to spend less time travelling. She became a Trustee and Finance Director at Bath Cricket Club in 2016 overhauling the financial controls and processes to ensure they were fit for purpose and able to support the club’s ambitious plans which included growing its community outreach programme. A fan of most sports, Karen is no stranger to cricket having spent many hours as a spectator and is looking forward to contributing to the NCCA board and supporting the counties

Operations Director

Richard joined the NCCA in November 2019 as Operations Manager. He played professional cricket for 12 years and followed that with 4 years in Minor County Cricket with Berkshire and Cheshire. Aside from cricket, Richard has strong business acumen with a background in business development, sponsorship and event management. Those experiences have equipped him well to support the NCCA on their exciting journey, with an emphasis on creating a clear pathway between the National County system and the First Class game. 

Secretary

Gordon Halliday is Secretary of NCCA Ltd. Currently Chair of Northumberland County Cricket Club, Gordon was until recently a Director of the Northumberland Cricket Board, Secretary of South Northumberland Cricket Club and Secretary of the North East Premier League. An all-rounder, Gordon played two times for Scotland in 1983 and played for Northumberland between 1981 and 1988. A Chartered Town Planner by profession, he retired from local government service in 2010 but still does some consultancy work.

Non Executive Director

Toby Pound has combined a career as a commercial property lawyer with an active role in Suffolk cricket. He has been Secretary of Suffolk CCC since 1991, a director of Suffolk Cricket Board since its formation in 1997 and more recently a member of the ECB Working Group on the County Governance Framework.

Non Executive Director

Geoff Ellis is a Chartered Accountant with over 35 years in business. During 15 years at Walt Disney his roles ranged from CFO of the network of Disney Channels to negotiating and launching businesses in new markets. He brings both a commercial and an independent view to NCCA as well as many years experience as Chairman of Esher CC.

Non-Executive Director

Jane joined the NCCA at the end of 2023 and brings over 20 years of experience in the sports sector, including Sport England and the ECB. She now runs her own successful health and wellbeing business. In a voluntary capacity Jane has been the Chair of the Norfolk Cricket Board since 2020, and organises the Norwich Triathlon annually. Jane herself is a keen endurance athlete including long distance triathlon and ultramarathon running. Her absolute passion is motivating people to believe they can make positive changes to their daily lifestyle.

Non-Executive Director - ED & I

Current Cambs CCC Vice Chairman. Represented Cambs CCC from 1990 to 2011 taking over 500 wickets for the county. Captain of Cambs from 1997 to 2006.

Represented England Cricket Board side and MCC. Ajaz owns Caterfix Limited, a catering equipment distributor based in Peterborough.

Non Executive Director 

Ian was formerly a corporate finance solicitor and partner at Slaughter and May in London and Hong Kong. He is currently Chair of Bucks Cricket CIO and has been Chair of Bucks CCC since 2012. He played for Cambridge University and Combined Universities for 3 years and in total played 38 List A matches. He also played 45 Minor County matches for Bucks between 1981-1988 and represented Hong Kong when living there. He also represented Cambridge at both squash and tennis. Among many other charity and voluntary positions, he is Treasurer of the County Cricketers Golfing Society.